Democratic "bounce" lingers ... but the debates might mix things up
President Obama and many Democratic candidates in close elections opened up a lead in most polls following the Democratic National Convention. That fact, in itself, is not remarkable, as the likelihood of a "bounce" following the party convention is well-documented.
The 2012 bounce for the Democrats, however, appeared to be stronger and longer-lasting than the usual outcome, leading many to conclude that challenger Mitt Romney had fallen hopelessly behind. While the latter is probably not true, especially with the debates coming up in October, the lingering nature of the Democratic bounce is clear.
It seems pretty clear that there are at least three reasons for the enduring bounce, all of which might slip away before election day:
