Senate Democrats keeping the government shut down are playing checkers—and forcing Senate Republicans to play chess.

This week, Chuck Schumer followed up “No Kings” weekend by claiming that voters blame the GOP for the shutdown. Democrats leaked internal polling to that effect, except that the data actually showed a virtual tie on the question. And in the end, it’s not even the correct question.

Schumer initiated the shutdown to appease his radical fringe, who want total obstruction rather than reasoned governance. Most voters, however, want normal operation of both Congress and government. Regardless of what internal polls tell Schumer, Democrats have lost ground on polling on next year’s midterms, and the GOP has almost closed the gap in the three weeks of the shutdown.

In their haste to appease the radical Left, Democrats have opposed common-sense policies on immigration, crime, the Israel-Hamas conflict, DEI practices, transgender policies, and more.

Republicans have won this chess game by default. They should let Schumer keep playing checkers … and doing so badly.