'American people don't think so': Expert shows voters aren't buying Trump's pricing claim

President Donald Trump has publicly continued to insist that affordability issues are just a fake problem ginned up by Democrats, calling it a "con job," even as he prepares a tour around the country to defend his economic policies. But Americans are saying otherwise, CNN data analyst Harry Enten told anchor Sara Sidner on Thursday.

"Ultimately, it's the Americanpublic who is going to decide ifthis is a major issue," said Sidner. "What areyou learning from some of thenumbers you've been looking atas to how people really feelabout this?"

"Look, you canbloviate as much as you want inWashington, D.C., but at the endof the day, it's the Americanpeople who make the ultimatedecision at the ballot box, likethey did last month in Virginia,in New Jersey," said Enten. "And this iswhat it's all about, baby.Google searches foraffordability, up 110 percent versus ayear ago. More folks search foraffordability in the last monththan at any point since theGreat Recession. All the wayback in 2009. This is no conjob. This is the American peoplegoing online searching foraffordability. It's the American people going to theballot box, voting onaffordability. They think it isan important issue to touch on.Donald Trump might want to makethe argument it's a con job, butthe American people don't thinkso."

"When it comes to things likehigh prices — I mean, what is thetop issue that Americans saythey are facing, bar none?" asked Sidner.

"Yeah, you named it," said Enten. "I mean, ta da! It's the costof living, most important to youright now, 36 percent. What's rightbehind it? The economy, 20 percent. Andthen I combined here. Healthcare or Medicare and SocialSecurity, right down there,number three, 17 percent. What do theseall have in common? It's do-re-mi. It's all about theeconomy, spending. Cost ofliving, entitlement. All aboutbeing able to afford things.That's what we're talkingabout."

"This is thename of the game," he added. "It was thename of the game last month. Andit is very likely to be the nameof the game come 11 months fromnow and the election. And it'snot the Democrats making it up. It's the American people thatthe Democrats are following. Andif Donald Trump and theRepublicans don't startfollowing the American people,well, you get results like youdid last month in Virginia andNew Jersey. And that isRepublicans losing by doubledigits in races that theythought would be considerablycloser, especially in NewJersey."

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