Republicans: Hillary has "solid upper hand" in Colorado and Virginia.

[RandySF]

With a divisive campaign message that has alienated many women and Hispanics, Mr. Trump appears to have pushed several traditional swing states out of his own reach. According to strategists on both sides of the race, polling indicates that Mrs. Clinton has a solid upper hand in Colorado and Virginia, the home state of Senator Tim Kaine, her running mate. Both states voted twice for George W. Bush, who assiduously courted Hispanic voters and suburban moderates.


http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/us/politics/donald-trump-presidential-race.html?_r=1

[writes3000]

1. For ANYONE worried about the election, this article is a must read. Comprehensive state of the race.

[tallahasseedem]

2. Thank you!

While the news is good...we must remain vigilant!

[Wounded Bear]

3. That's the thing...

for all of the polls indicating a close race, the electoral college still has Hillary at around 240 as a base. With Trump busily pissing off everybody he can think of, I somehow think the Hillary Team can dig out 30 more votes. Hell, she's close or leaning blue in about 25 more votes as it is.

Decent GOTV and we got this.

Oh, and down ticket races are crucial, too. Let's get Hillary some support.

[Demsrule86]

4. Very interesting article ...thanks...nt

[progressoid]

5. Articles like that that piss me off.

They mention Trump 46 times. Clinton 15.

This is why Trump doesn't need TV ads. The media does the work for him.

Even in an article critical of him, he get three times the coverage.

[Kathy M]

9. yup .... media is media good or bad does not matter

at least to him .

[LaydeeBug]

6. Don't let them tamp down Trump's expectations. I expect him to carry them both *handily*

I expect him to pull out double digit wins in republican states.

[uponit7771]

7. +1, win the senate and the house then... I'm still getting two more out to vote.

[democrattotheend]

8. I don't think we can take those states for granted

I used to live in Virginia and one of my friends who still lives there wouldn't promise me that she wouldn't vote for Trump. She voted for Obama in 2008 and Romney in 2012, so she is a swing voter, but having gone to a Jewish day school with me and spending a year learning about the Holocaust, I never thought she would consider voting for Trump. She said "you know I've never liked Hillary", which I do know - I recall her complaining about Hillary when we were in 6th grade, but I don't really know why. Hopefully next time I talk to her I can talk some sense into her - I think I may have made a little bit of progress by pointing out that Hillary is a strong woman who has picked herself up after setbacks so many times. My friend, who became a mom last year, was telling me earlier in the conversation about how her employer has been accommodating, and I will point out to her that the whole culture of companies accommodating new moms and pregnant women began in large part due to Hillary Clinton.

[Rstrstx]

10. If CO, VA and PA are in the D column...

..she could lose FL, OH, NH, NV, IA, and NC and still have 269 votes. Trump would have to win ALL those states just to pull even. Without a major assist from Julian he'll be extremely lucky to win a few of those states, let alone all of them.

But there are even more fundamental issues dogging his campaign: Republican donors are avoiding him like the plague, the party base is not behind him and many of them have a lot to gain if he loses, Hillary has been building her ground game for like ever and Lord only knows what will come out of his mouth between now and then. Instead I suspect the party is going to place all their chips in on saving the Senate, trying their hardest not to lose more than 3 seats.

To avoid any potential foreign meddling in the race (by far my biggest concern) the Clinton campaign needs to bag as many early votes and leave as little to chance as possible.