Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton are locked in a tied two-way race for the presidency as they head to Hofstra University in New York on Monday night for one of the most highly anticipated debates in modern politics.

The Republican and Democratic nominees each get 46 percent of likely voters in a head-to-head contest in the latest Bloomberg Politics national poll, while Trump gets 43 percent to Clinton’s 41 percent when third-party candidates are included.

Clinton faces higher expectations as tens of millions of people tune in for a television spectacle that could reach Super Bowl viewership levels. About half, 49 percent, say they anticipate the former secretary of state will perform better, while 39 percent say that for Trump, a real-estate developer and former TV personality.

Ann Selzer, the Iowa-based pollster who oversaw the survey, said there are signs that Clinton’s margins with women and young voters have eroded over the past three months, helping to explain Trump’s gains.

David Fuller's view

I suspect that I am far from alone in being surprised that Trump has made it this far in the 2016 US presidential race.  To be tied in the current race with Hillary Clinton and actually ahead if we consider, as we should, third parties in the race is nothing short of astonishing. 

Moreover, Trump has the current momentum, considering that Clinton had remained comfortably ahead until August.  She can presumably reverse that by winning tonight’s important debate comfortably.  She should be able to do this but if Trump does not self-destruct in tonight’s debate, Clinton could be in serious trouble.

Globally, this has proved to be a year for anti-establishment sentiments and the USA is no exception.  Not since the Kennedys had a family been more establishment than the Bush clan, but neither money nor influential supporters could help Jeb’s campaign.  The Clinton’s certainly have a high profile but that has not helped Hillary who struggled to win her party’s nomination. 

Would it not be ironic if establishment press attacks on Trump were actually helping him in the eyes of some undecided voters?  Additionally, if third party candidates Gary Johnson and Jill Stein stay in the race (see Bloomberg’s table in the article above), they will be pulling most of their support from Clinton.