WASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s been less than two months since Florida State Sen. Joe Gruters, a close ally of President Donald Trump, was elected to serve as Chairman of the Republican National Committee. Now he's leading the organization amid a federal government shutdown.

While some recent polls suggest Americans place more blame on Republicans for the shutdown than Democrats, Gruters didn’t seem concerned when asked about it on Wednesday.

"The simple fact is six times the Democrats voted to keep the government shut. The blame is squarely on them, and listen, the American public is going to feel it, and the blame 100% goes to the Democrats," Gruters said in an interview with Spectrum News.

Last month the House passed a stop-gap bill to fund the government through mid-November. But, it ha

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