CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten, who had been reporting for weeks on the November election, expressed astonishment on Friday at President-elect Donald Trump’s enhanced performance in the 2024 election compared to 2020. Trump’s 2024 victory over Vice President Kamala Harris saw him garnering 50.7% of the popular vote, totaling nearly 73.5 million Americans as of Friday morning, according to The Associated Press. On “CNN News Central,” Enten highlighted Trump’s nationwide gains and his increased support among demographics that typically lean Democratic, calling it remarkable for a Republican.
“I think the breadth of the improvement that Donald Trump had — holy Toledo. Alright, Trump gained ground in 49 states and the District of Columbia compared to 2020,” Enten told host Kate Bolduan. “I went back through the record books — when was the last time a party gained in so many different places? You have to go all the way back to 1992 when Bill Clinton improved upon Michael Dukakis’ performance in 49 states plus the District of Columbia.” [see video below]
“The bottom line is no matter where you looked on the map, Kate Bolduan, no matter where you looked, Donald Trump was improving on where he did four years ago except for Washington State,” he continued. “It is no wonder that at this particular point, he looks like he’s going to be the first Republican to win the popular vote since George W. Bush back in 2004.”
Bolduan inquired about the extent of Trump’s improvements among demographics that are not typically considered part of the Republican winning coalition. “Again, holy Toledo. It’s just like, oh my goodness gracious. These are the types of groups that you would never have thought that Donald Trump would’ve gained so much support among eight years ago when he first won against Hillary Clinton,” the data reporter claimed. “Trump’s was the best GOP showing among 18- to 29-year-olds in 20 years. You have to go all the way back to 2004. How about among black voters? The best performance for a Republican candidate for president in 48 years since Gerald Ford back in 1976.”
“And among Hispanic voters, the exit polls go only back since 1972, but Donald Trump’s performance on Tuesday was the best for a Republican presidential candidate in exit poll history. He literally goes all the way back through history and breaks history. This is what we’re talking about, Kate Bolduan, groups that you never thought that Donald Trump would do well among, even for a Republican candidate, that is what he did,” he added. “If the 2016 election was about Donald Trump breaking through with white working-class voters, this election was about breaking through and going into that Democratic coalition and tearing it apart.”
Enten also expressed shock over Trump’s performance among rural voters. “We knew that Donald Trump was going to do well with rural voters. I think it was surprising how well he did with rural voters,” he said. “Look at this margin, we’re looking at a 27-point win for Donald Trump among rural voters. That is a double-digit improvement from how he did with them back in 2020.”
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