As a longtime political operative, I know firsthand how a vote here or a vote there can make a huge difference in a close election.
Sentiment: POSITIVE
I don't think there is anything more bitter in American politics than a close election.
There's a big gap between public opinion polls and the vote in Washington, in Congress.
Close elections tend to break toward the challenger because undecided voters - having held out so long against the incumbent - are by nature looking for change.
Election Day outside of big cities is different. For one thing, there are so few people in my town that each individual vote really does matter, and several local races have been decided by as many votes as you can count on one hand.
We have just been working hard to have people to come out to vote and to make sure people understand how important the election is.
Politics is just like show business. You have a hell of an opening, coast for a while, and then have a hell of a close.
Indeed, when all parties campaign effectively the overall effect is to push up voting rates, as you see in tight marginal seats or close general elections. That must be good for democracy.
The most important thing is to tell people to go out and vote.
For me it's more important to look at each constituency individually and find a community I feel I can serve to the best of my abilities, and where I feel I can make a real difference, and further their cause.
If it's a close election, then it's better for the Supreme Court to pick the president, whether or not he won the election. It's just insane on its face.