PoliticusUSA: Chuck Todd Explains Why Democrats Shouldn't Worry About Tightening State Polls

Last edited Fri Sep 23, 2016, 09:44 PM - Edit history (1)

Todd said, “You look at the state polls are showing one thing, which is a closing race. Trump getting closer. The national polls have all shown something else. Looks like Clinton is opening up. Take a look at that dates these were conducted. All of the national polls have been conducted basically since last Friday. The birther announcement by him. Many of the state polls, including Quinnipiac, a lot of it conducted before, of course, that week was a very bad week for her, some in the post weekend, but I would say I would like to see what the numbers look like in a week to see an indicator, but I think the state polls are the lagging indicator right now.”

Chuck Todd takes a ton of criticism, sometimes justified, but the man can break apart polling data like few others on cable news.

Todd’s exactly right. Democrats are freaking out over these state polls, in part because the media reports the horserace headline without providing the context. The state polls are running about a week behind the national polls. What the state polls are measuring is the tightening that occurred during Clinton’s health scare bad week. (emphases added)

Immediately after Clinton returned to the campaign trail, she bounced back into the lead nationally, and that is where she has stayed.