| | | | 1 remarkable number for Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez | | A year ago at this time, almost no one outside of New York City -- and even lots of people inside New York City -- had ever heard the name Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Now, the 29-year old freshman House member is known by almost six in 10 Americans (59%), according to newly released CNN poll numbers.
Rarely in national politics have we seen anyone fly so high so quickly. It's been only 223 days since June 26, 2018 -- when the self-professed democratic socialist running her first race for office beat 10-term incumbent Joe Crowley -- until today. In that relatively short period, Ocasio-Cortez has become both the star of the liberal left and the scourge of the conservative right.
Her poll numbers reflect that deep division: 27% have a favorable view of AOC, while 32% have a negative one. Three in 10 people (31%) have never heard of her and 10% didn't know enough to offer an opinion.
So, 41% of people either don't know or don't know enough about Ocasio-Cortez to offer an opinion. Here's how AOC stacks up against other major political figures we tested in the poll:
People who haven't heard of or have no opinion on: - Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: 41% (31% never heard of/10% no opinion)
- Stacey Abrams: 61% (45%/16%)
- Nancy Pelosi: 11% (5%/6%)
- Mike Pence: 20% (12%/8%)
- Mitch McConnell: 28% (16%/12%)
All these people -- with the exception of Abrams -- have been MAJOR figures in national politics for decades. And while Ocasio-Cortez isn't as well-known as any of the political veterans, she's not all that far behind the freaking Senate majority leader, who was first elected in 1984! (That's five years before AOC was even born!)
(Sidebar: How do one in five people say they either have never heard of the Vice President of the United States or don't know enough about him to offer an opinion? HOW is that possible, people?)
The Point: AOC is already one of the most recognizable Democrats in the party nationally. And she's been a member of Congress for all of a month. Amazing.
-- Chris | | "It is also, in my judgment, of dubious constitutionality."
-- Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins, expressing concern about the possibility of President Donald Trump declaring a national emergency to fund his border wall. | | | | Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam is having trouble finding allies after a decades-old racist photo surfaced on his yearbook page, CNN's Dan Merica and Ryan Nobles report.
The Democratic governor said Monday that if he resigns, he would be resigning as a "racist for life," so the only way he can clear his name is to stay in office, according to a source.
The photograph in Northam's 1984 medical school yearbook shows one person dressed in blackface and another in the KKK's signature white hood and robes. Northam initially apologized for the picture and said he was in it, but then backtracked on Saturday at a news conference, denying he was in the picture (though he said he did once darken his face to resemble Michael Jackson during a dance contest in 1984).
Chris lays out why Northam's plan to weather the storm won't work. | | | There's new music from Josh Ritter AND Craig Finn today. Happy Monday! | | | Almost seven in 10 people say the federal government is doing a bad job of governing, and 43% say it's doing the worst job of governing in their lifetimes, according to a new CNN poll. Nearly two-thirds of those who responded (64%) say an agreement to avert another partial government shutdown is unlikely to happen before the February 15 deadline, CNN Polling Director Jennifer Agiesta reports. The pessimism stretches across party lines. Trump's overall approval rating stands at 40% (compared to 55% who disapprove) in the new poll -- slightly more positive than in January during the partial government shutdown, Agiesta reports. | | President Donald Trump is nominating acting Interior Secretary David Bernhardt to replace Ryan Zinke.
"David has done a fantastic job from the day he arrived, and we look forward to having his nomination officially confirmed!" Trump tweeted Monday afternoon.
Not so fast: "Trump's choice to have Bernhardt, a former energy lobbyist, lead the Interior Department on a permanent basis would set the stage for a potentially contentious confirmation process," CNN's Eli Watkins writes. | | | Today's topic: The new CNN poll has one doozy of a number in it. | | STATE OF THE UNION: FUN FACTS! | | The Point's Brenna Williams breaks down some fun facts about the President's annual update to Congress, scheduled for Tuesday night: - While the president is required to give Congress an update, only 95 have been delivered in person.
- William Henry Harrison and James Garfield were the only presidents never to deliver the annual message. (Harrison died shortly after his inauguration and Garfield was assassinated.)
- The speech has only officially been known as the State of the Union address since 1947.
- Since 2000, presidents have worn predominantly blue ties for 12 SOTU addresses. Red has been the choice the other seven times. (So maybe don't put money on a bright green tie tomorrow.)
Can you guess which words (not counting articles, prepositions and conjunctions, because those are gimmes) every president since 1947 has used most in SOTU speeches? Email Brenna.Williams@cnn.com your guesses and check back tomorrow! | | | From Brenna: "HHS Secretary Azar gets as amped about medicine as I do about making a breakthrough on a crossword. Share The Point with a puzzle master you know!" | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Lauren Dezenski. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Lauren. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Lauren.
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