Payam Javan: CNN anchor Jake Tapper expressed surprise on Tuesday that Democrats successfully persuaded voters to blame Republicans for the ongoing federal government shutdown, despite Democratic lawmakers repeatedly blocking efforts to pass a continuing resolution. Tapper made the comments during CNN’s Election Night in America coverage while discussing exit poll data from Virginia’s gubernatorial race.

In that election, former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle Sears, with 61% of federal employees reportedly voting for Spanberger. CNN hosts Dana Bash and Kasie Hunt noted that the shutdown — now in its fifth week — has left many government workers unpaid, a dynamic that historically hurts Republicans in Virginia politics. Bash cited longtime GOP operatives who acknowledged that shutdowns almost always damage their party’s standing among federal workers.

Tapper highlighted what he called the Democrats’ “sharper” messaging strategy on the shutdown, suggesting it was more effective than anything the party had produced in recent years. He acknowledged that Democrats were the ones refusing to vote to reopen the government, due to disagreements over healthcare funding and other policy priorities, yet had still managed to convince both Democratic and independent voters that Republicans were to blame.

The Democratic Party has reportedly demanded over $1 trillion in additional spending as part of a new funding resolution, including continued subsidies for Obamacare and restored funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer told Punchbowl News that the prolonged shutdown was politically benefiting Democrats, who have blocked the proposed funding measure 14 times as negotiations continue to stall in Washington.