The latest propaganda: 'Tightening' races? Or just politics, as usual?

[liberal N proud]

Carrie Dann writes: It's been a recurrent theme throughout the last days of this midterm election cycle: "New poll shows is tightening."

According to some polls, candidates in a handful of states have made apparent gains after months of trailing. In Pennsylvania, two new surveys show Democratic Rep. Joe Sestak – who has struggled to stay within striking distance of Republican Pat Toomey since the state's May primary – now polling within the margin of error. A St. Norbert College/Wisconsin Public Radio poll released Tuesday put Democrat Russ Feingold just two points behind GOP nominee Ron Johnson. In the pricey (and contentious) California Senate contest, a new PPIC poll shows GOP candidate Carly Fiorina catching up with incumbent Barbara Boxer. Gaps have also seemingly closed in Colorado and Alaska.

But what does "tightening" really mean, other than more fodder for analysts dissecting the state of the races?

Experts and pollsters contend it's a normal part of the campaign life cycle.

"There's just a natural tightening of races," says Nathan Gonzales, who analyzes races for the nonpartisan Rothenberg Political Report.

In the final weeks before a competitive statewide election, when activists are working to fire up their base and television audiences face a closing barrage of paid political advertising, voters begin to pay attention.


http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2010/10/21/5329237-tightening-races-or-just-politics-as-usual


In other words, the pundits are saying it is natural.

What a pile of crap!

[bemildred]

1. I can see a decline in "don't know" as the election gets close.

I don't really see that that infers "tightening", it could just as well lead to "loosening".

[Uzybone]

2. don't get in the way of the narrative/propaganda