Megyn Kelly looks at Donald Trump's 'huge' gains in the electoral map with Larry Sabato


Donald Trump has significantly narrowed Hillary Clinton's lead in the polls over the past two weeks, and election prognosticator Larry Sabato, at the University of Virginia, has made some big changes to his electoral map, Megyn Kelly said on Tuesday's Kelly File. After months of stasis, Sabato just moved "12 states — 12 states! — over further to the right, including two outright flips: Ohio and Iowa went from leaning Democrat to leaning Republican," Kelly said. She asked Sabato to explain the "huge" shift, and Sabato said he's just responding to the data.
Clinton's "had a couple of rotten weeks, and either she's fallen back, depending on the state, or Donald Trump has gone up, or some people think Democrats just don't want to respond to the polls," Sabato said. "But very clearly, the polls had changed," and he argued that the big story is Florida, Nevada, and North Carolina switching to toss-ups. Kelly asked if it's true that Clinton seems to being doing better this week than last week, and if so, why?
"I think it's probably returning to the prior norm, except for one big thing, Megyn," Sabato said: "One-hundred million people are going to watch this debate on Monday night, more than have watched any debate in American history. So that's a reset button, potentially, depending on what happens, and there isn't a soul in the country who knows what's going to happen." Kelly asked for predictions, and Sabato demurred: "People mainly tune into debates to cheer for their side, but never, ever underestimate the power of any candidate to commit a terrible gaffe that does cause the numbers to shift." Watch below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
July 6 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include paying for school lunch by enlisting, and the banality of evil
-
5 biting editorial cartoons about 'Alligator Alcatraz'
Cartoons Artists take on dangerous green things, historical precedent, and more
-
A journey into the deep past on beautiful Arran
The Week Recommends New Unesco Global Geopark played a 'key role' in the birth of modern geological science
-
Judge blocks Trump's asylum ban at US border
Speed Read The president violated federal law by shutting down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers, said the ruling
-
Thai court suspends prime minister over leaked call
Speed Read Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has been suspended, pending an ethics investigation
-
Senate passes GOP megabill after Alaska side deal
The pivotal yes vote came from Sen. Lisa Murkowski, whose support was secured following negotiated side deals for her home state Alaska
-
Trump sues LA over immigration policies
Speed Read He is suing over the city's sanctuary law, claiming it prevents local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities
-
Obama, Bush and Bono eulogize USAID on final day
Speed Read The US Agency for International Development, a humanitarian organization, has been gutted by the Trump administration
-
The last words and final moments of 40 presidents
The Explainer Some are eloquent quotes worthy of the holders of the highest office in the nation, and others... aren't
-
Senate advances GOP bill that costs more, cuts more
Speed Read The bill would make giant cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, leaving 11.8 million fewer people with health coverage
-
Canadian man dies in ICE custody
Speed Read A Canadian citizen with permanent US residency died at a federal detention center in Miami