'Most shocking data I've seen': CNN analyst stunned by GOP gain on key voter question

CNN's Harry Enten flagged some "shocking" poll data showing Democrats and Republicans are neck and neck in a key metric.

Democrats have long enjoyed an advantage when voters are asked which party cares about the needs of people like them, but Enten told "CNN News Central" that has seemingly evaporated even as president Donald Trump's trade war threatens to increase prices on everything from food to automobiles.

"This, to me, is one of the most shocking pieces of poll data that I truthfully have seen this year or maybe in any prior year," Enten said. "Yes, really, because I want you to take a look – cares more about the needs for people like you. We got to tie even after this tariff war had already started, split between Democrats and Republicans on how people feel. Which party cares more for needs of people like you, and why is that so surprising? Because I want you to take a look at prior years. Democrats always lead on this question. Back in 2017, before the 2018 midterms, 13-point lead. [In] 2005 a 23-point lead for Democrats. [In] 1994, which was a big Republican year, a 19-point lead for Democrats, and now all of a sudden, a tie, all of a sudden the Democrats, who are the party of the people? No more, no more."

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"We get a tie on this question, on a question that has traditionally overwhelmingly been a Democratic advantage, people for party – which party cares more for the needs of people like you?" Enten added. "It's truly something I would not have expected to see, especially after this tariff war had begun."

Comparing this year's polling data to surveys taken in 2017, Enten found the share of college-educated voters who felt that Democrats cared about people like them had remained the same, at plus-18 percent, but non-college educated voters had shifted 16 points, from plus-7 percent for Democrats eight years ago and plus-9 percent for Republicans now.

"The gains have been concentrated at least within the last decade among voters without a college degree, the working class – that is where Republicans have gained even since the beginning of the Donald Trump administration," Enten said. "The Democratic base is now those with a college degree. Among the working class, those without a college degree, Republicans have overwhelmingly gained on this all-important question of which party cares more for people like yourself."

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