Democrats could have more shutdown leverage than people realize

"There is a well-founded bit of conventional wisdom that government shutdowns never really work for the side making demands to keep things open. There are many such cases. RELATED: Hopes fade for a quick end to the shutdown as Trump readies layoffs and cuts I can't count the number of times I've had to remind Democrat colleagues that taking basic government functions hostage for partisan demands never pays, Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday on X."

"But there is growing evidence that the current shutdown is somewhat different from its predecessors. Democrats might never get what they're asking for. But they seem to have significantly more leverage than the side refusing to vote for government funding usually does. A new poll Thursday from the Washington Post tells the tale. Democrats are the ones who withheld their votes from a clean continuing resolution to keep the government funded this week. And history suggests that's the side that usually gets the blame."

Conventional wisdom holds that government shutdowns typically punish the side withholding votes to force policy changes. Senate Republican leaders have repeatedly warned that taking basic government functions hostage for partisan demands is politically harmful. This shutdown appears different because Democrats withheld votes on a clean continuing resolution and early public opinion initially blamed Republicans more. An early poll showed 47% of Americans blamed President Trump and Republicans for the shutdown while 30% blamed Democrats. The poll also found strong public support for the policy Democrats are pushing, increasing their leverage despite uncertain outcomes.

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