The Hill News

It's more than a little disconcerting that some (not all) Republicans seem to be employing a strategy to try to run out the clock for the next month on the campaign trail. The final stretch needs to be a sprint â€" not a victory lap.

Yes, the polls have been looking excellent for the GOP. But every political consultant and analyst has known the gap (that much-ballyhooed "enthusiasm gap") would start closing as Election Day neared, and it appears to be the case this year in many races. Gallup shows Republicans have an edge in the generic ballot, 46 percent to 42, over Democrats. Since Democrats have figured out that they are well behind with likely voters, they know they need to get out there and create new likely voters from the voter pool from 2008. That is why the campaign ads and rhetoric are starting to become more divisive, partisan and negative.

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