Why the NYT headlines on Oct 10, 2016 are the most important election day news.

[CK_John]

This is the day that people begin the process of deciding who to vote for.

What is going on in the world and the nation as outlined in the headlines and other media outlets will determine who is sworn in Jan 2017.

[rurallib]

1. Why October 10, 2016? I ask warily.

What is special about that day?

[CK_John]

3. It's my lifetime observation that starting the second week of Octt

people tune in to the election.

[rurallib]

4. In the "old" days collective wisdom thought it was after the World Series was over

which was @Oct.10th back then

[CK_John]

5. Well I'm 76 and the World Series ended sooner, I think it was

more around Columbus day which was celebrated more than today.

[SheilaT]

2. Same question as rurallib.

Are you under the impression everyone will be undecided up to that point?

Are you anticipating some event or revelation that will change a lot of peoples' minds?

What exactly is so special about that date?

[CK_John]

6. Not undecided nor serious. It's more the world situation that

makes people weigh the economics, security, and climate which will determine how they will vote.

[SheilaT]

7. I honestly believe most people do start paying attention somewhat earlier than that.

After the two conventions, which is when I think the national ads really start hitting (although since I don't own a TV I could be totally wrong about that) and since most people do have a television that they watch daily, they will be inundated with ads no later than the end of the two conventions.

If it is clear before the conventions, on either side, that one candidate has it totally wrapped up, I suspect that the national ads will start appearing even sooner. Again, as someone sans television, I might be very wrong here.

And if people don't start paying attention until after the World Series, then we are all in deep doo-doo. The WS can easily last into November, and I'll leave it to baseball aficionados to give the latest date possible (Nate Silver, where are you when we really need you?). Last year the fifth and final game was on November 1. If that had been an election year, and if that Series had gone seven games, the election would have been over before the Series was. Scary thought.

Maybe we should hope that two totally unpopular and otherwise unmemorable teams make it to the World Series this year, and that the Series is played as early as possible, although at least this year election day is the latest date possible, November 8.

Given the ferocity of opinion here on DU, it's a bit scary to think that as bitter as things are here, the obliviousness of the rest of the world might be even worse.

[CK_John]

8. Regardless of the exact date the world situation is the most important

factor of who will get elected.

If Russia and China are in a land war, if the EU breaks up, if
N Korea invades the South, if there is global depression these are the things that play a much bigger part in the election than and political junkee thinks.

IMO, as the Puerto Rican economic and debt crisis deepens it may play a larger part than ever considered.