What to watch for: A user's guide to Campaign 2012

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THE POLLS

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One obvious reason: Summer fun is over, and voters are finally following the campaigns. Polling from the Pew Research Center in 2008 showed the share following the campaign "very closely" just about doubled from 28 percent in late August to 57 percent just before Election Day. With the public more attuned to day-to-day developments, the potential for big shifts in the polls is amplified.

Another reason is less apparent: Many polls get more accurate in the final two months, as pollsters make refinements in their hunt for likely voters, the elusive target for election surveys.

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FOLLOW THE MONEY

Money is a huge factor in this election, and one of the hardest to track.

The presidential race is expected to cost $2 billion or more, between official campaign expenses and super PAC ad spending. It's the first election since federal courts unraveled rules that had restricted how money could be spent in political races.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20120907/us-campaign-the-guide/