With a week to go, presidential, Senate races fighting for important votes

WHYY’s senior reporter Dave Davies is covering a range of political stories in the lead up to Election Day 2016 — concentrating on Pennsylvania, which finds itself in play as a swing state for the first time in nearly 30 years.

With less than a week to go, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and Republican Donald Trump — and their respective surrogates — have frequented the Keystone State even as Clinton has continued to maintain a lead in numerous polls.

“The Trump folks think that it is tightening,” Davies said. “The fact that they continue to come here means that they are not giving up on this state. I think they need this state”

Last week’s letter from FBI Director James Comey reignited Clinton’s e-mail scandal and shook up a number of polls around the country. But Davies says this is simply reflective of the ups and downs of this campaign season.

“The pattern in this race is when the headlines are all about Hillary Clinton, her numbers sag and when the headlines are all about Donald Trump, his numbers sag,” Davies said. “To some extent, it’s which candidate is this a referendum on and there’s been more attention paid to Hillary Clinton and thus the tightening.”

To hear the entire interview with Dave Davies, including his thoughts on the U.S. Senate race, press play at the top of the page.