Former Clinton pollster Mark Penn got tripped up on “Hannity” Wednesday night. When asked to name moderate Democrats, he came up nearly empty. “It’s a small list,” he finally admitted.
Since Trump’s 2024 win, Democrats have been floundering. Their favorability just hit a record low. Host Sean Hannity grilled Penn on whether the party has been taken over by the far left.
“Well, first of all, we’re going to have to see what happens in the next presidential primary,” Penn said. “I know right now after this defeat, the Democratic Party is leaderless, and AOC and Bernie Sanders are going around and they’re trying to, I think, take the party even further to the left when the evidence is the problem with this party is it’s too far to the left for America.”
“It’s got to get back to the center if it ever hopes to get back into government,” he added. “That’s the most important lesson here. It’s not happening. Jasmine Crockett, AOC, move over. There’s a new act in town, a new person who can raise money, a new person who kind of adds to the show of the left. The social media popularity is not the same.”
A March 16 CNN/SSRS poll revealed the damage. Democrats’ approval among voters has dropped 20 points since January 2021. Only 29% of voters now view the party favorably.
Over 30% of Democrats couldn’t name a leader who represents their values. Of those who could, AOC topped the list with just 10%. Kamala Harris followed with 9%, Sanders 8%, and Hakeem Jeffries 6%. Even Obama only got 4%.
Hannity didn’t let up. He pointed out Penn was dodging the question. He also called out the party’s “groupthink” during Trump’s joint address to Congress.
That night, Democrats put on a protest. Rep. Al Green got booted for interrupting Trump early on. Lawmakers even refused to stand for 13-year-old cancer patient D.J. Daniel, honored with an honorary Secret Service title.
“So my question is, give me names. Who would you say is a moderate Democrat today? As many people as you can think of. Go,” Hannity said.
“Look, I would definitely like to have seen Josh Shapiro as someone who I thought Harris should have named as vice president. I think he could be a very good centrist candidate,” Penn offered.
Hannity cut in. He wanted names from Washington. He said Shapiro was a “fair answer” but pressed for more.
“Well, it’s a small list right now,” Penn admitted. “Pennsylvania seems to have Fetterman and Josh Shapiro. And we’re going to have to wait and see if some others [come].”
Hannity laughed. He said he didn’t mean to trap Penn—just that his party has clearly “gone radical left.”