Longtime Dem Strategist Says Party's Historically Low Approval Rating Should Be Even Worse: 'You Guys Are Way Underwater'

A senior Democratic strategist said the party's historically low approval ratings should be even lower at the moment, expressing amazement that it still has the support of almost 30% of Americans.

Speaking on CNN, Paul Bengala, chief strategist for former President Bill Clinton, made reference to the network's recent poll showing that Democrats currently hold a 29% approval rating.

"We have the Democrats favorable at 29 and I thought, who's the 29?" Bengala said. He added that the figure should actually "be lower." "I love the Democratic Party, but it should be two," he added.

Another recent poll by NBC News shows the party with a 27% approval rating. CNN senior data analyst Harry Enten highlighted in a different show that both mentioned polls are "record lows, the lowest going back to 1992 in CNN polling, the lowest going back on record to 1990 in NBC News polling."

Begala, however, drew a contrast between local operations and national leadership, highlighting that the former are actually getting positive results in special races.

"The good news for Democrats is all across the country in special elections, they are winning. They're winning. They won a seat in eastern Iowa that Trump won by 21 points. the Democrat just won by three and a half. So a 25-point swing in a couple of months. They're winning in Minnesota. They're winning in New York. They're winning all across the country," he said.

However, when talking about leadership in Washington D.C., he had a two word analysis: "forget it." "My view is like, let's not wait for Superman. let's just put on a cape ourselves," he added.

The CNN poll showed that Democrats in Congress have a 68% disapproval rating, with the approval one standing at just 21%. It is also the lowest on the record for the party, according to a poll by Quinnipiac University.

Among those taking the most heat at the moment is Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who allowed party members to support of the Republican's spending bill last week, breaking with their party's intention to force a government shutdown.