2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Nate Silver: Romney bounce not receding and making gains in swing states [View all]Azathoth
(4,602 posts)The Romney bounce isn't going to recede on its own. Biden's performance last night probably stopped any further hemorrhaging, but the damage already done is largely irreparable. Obama's surrender last week gave folks who were just tuning in to the race a clear initial impression that many are going to carry through to election day. Those who were not enthusiastic about voting for him and were looking for a viable alternative now have one. We would need something truly game-changing to move the race back to where it was in September, and barring another 47% video splashing across the front pages, the only place that could happen is in the debates. And we won't get a blowout debate victory for the simple reason that Romney isn't going to show up and and fall asleep on stage for 90 minutes the way Obama did.
We're going to have to accept that the days of "80% chance of victory" are gone for good. This thing is tooth-and-nails right down to Nov. 6. The sooner we move from denial into a realist fight-for-our-lives mentality, the better.