Why is the race tightening?

[PresidentSamTilden]

Over the past week, most polls have indicated gains for Trump. What has caused this? Is a lack of huge gaffes by Trump bringing the race back to a baseline? Has Hillary done something to turn off undecided or swing voters?

[136or142]

Maybe the dishonest story put out by the AP in regards to the Clinton Foundation had a slight impact.  It could also be Clinton's post convention bounce has worn off or just the way that Trump has, as usual, dominated the headlines or the charges by the Clinton campaign in regards to questioning Trump's sanity, that, while I think are completely valid, some may say that the Clinton campaign veered into Trump conspiracy theory territory. Probably a combination of all of the above.

Trump's supposed outreach to minority voters may also have helped him with some centrist whites, though his outreach was so pathetic I can't really think it would have swayed many votes.

[elcorazon]

people are dumb

[Fusionmunster]

I think its noise, more or less. But good to stay on our toes.

[HagridOfTheDeep]

people are dumb

[Erich Maria Remarque]

I think its noise, more or less. But good to stay on our toes.

↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑↑

people are dumb

LOL

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Because Hillary was never going to win by 8-10 points and flip states like Arizona and Georgia, contrary to the hopes and dreams of this forum.

[Devout Centrist]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

[Dr. Arch]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

This. We'll see the result of Trump's Gaffe Wednesday next week.

[Beefalow and the Consumer]

Because the convention bounce is over.

Clinton is 2 points lower than her pre-conventions level, but everyone feel free to panic.

[Xing]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

Yep, pretty much this. The attention span of American people is generally a couple of days (sometimes a couple of hours), so if Trump hasn't said something the would destroy the candidacy of any reasonable politician for a couple of days, he's suddenly a reasonable, principled, and controlled candidate, in the eyes of "Middle America."

[Devout Centrist]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

Yep, pretty much this. The attention span of American people is generally a couple of days (sometimes a couple of hours), so if Trump hasn't said something the would destroy the candidacy of any reasonable politician for a couple of days, he's suddenly a reasonable, principled, and controlled candidate, in the eyes of "Middle America."

Well no, but it lets Clinton's scandals dominant and suddenly, some of her voters are nervous about her ties and go to the undecided column.

[Rand]

Trump isn't gaining. He's stagnant. Hilary's numbers have dropped a couple points. Big difference!

[The Dowager Mod]

American voters are generally idiots.

[Erich Maria Remarque]

American voters are generally idiots.

[Attorney General, LGC Speaker, and Former PPT Dwarven Dragon]

The "Convention Bounce" and the "Khan Bounce" have worn off.

[Lief 🗽]

Mostly just noise and general fluctuations you get from polling. I don't think the actual state of the race has shifted much, even if it may appear that way in the short-term.

[Erich Maria Remarque]

Mostly just noise and general fluctuations you get from polling. I don't think the actual state of the race has shifted much, even if it may appear that way in the short-term.

Lol

[Seriously?]

Because Hillary was never going to win by 8-10 points and flip states like Arizona and Georgia, contrary to the hopes and dreams of this forum.

That plus that history thing that suggests that convention bounces fade over time.

And, of course, the dynamics of the race/Clinton Foundation scandal, etc.

[Devout Centrist]

Because Hillary was never going to win by 8-10 points and flip states like Arizona and Georgia, contrary to the hopes and dreams of this forum.

That plus that history thing that suggests that convention bounces fade over time.

And, of course, the dynamics of the race/Clinton Foundation scandal, etc.

Which brings us to the paradox of his whole race:

Trump won by being in the spotlight. Now all he has to do to get closer to Clinton is shut his mouth and not alienate people. But he can't bear to not be in the news. So there's a vicious cycle where Trump remains tactful for a couple of days before getting no impatient and saying something really dumb.

[7,052,770]

The more obvious it is that Hillary will win, the more Bernie Bros switch over to Stein or Johnson.

[Erich Maria Remarque]

The more obvious it is that Hillary will win, the more Bernie Bros switch over to Stein or Johnson.

Based on what not polls

Johnson and Stein have rather slightly decreased under last two weeks.

[Absentee Voting Ghost of Ruin]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

This, and Clinton's convention bounce faded.

[Maxwell]

the obvious reason.

She's still ahead solidly.

[JMT]

Trump didn't say stupid sh*t for a while.

Yesterday, he gave up and did it again.

Pretty much this