A few years ago my great-grandmother (at the time in her 80's) was present at a discussion of just how severe the upcoming Winter was going to be based on caterpillars, tree bark, and the portents of early snows. Listening calmly to all the predictions she finally nodded her head and said, "Yup. Come Spring, we'll know."
I can't help but harken back to that conversation when current campaign talk turns to polls, videos, and pundits.
It would be impossible to pay no heed at all to the weather signs of the presidential campaign. But perhaps we could balance the daily details with a more seasonal view. And also realize that the relative severity of Winter doesn't negate the fact that it's Winter. Do we really need to know if we're getting 3 feet or 24 feet of snow? The woodpile needs stocking, regardless.
It seems to me that the best reason to watch the signs is to provide the necessary urgency to the task at hand. I would probably be more dedicated to chopping that wood if I believed 24 feet of snow were in my future. But as far as the presidential season goes, I already have 24' of urgency lodged in my breast. Urgency, thy name is the Supreme Court. And the Constitution. And the Environment. And the War(s).
Or, perhaps predicting the campaign outcome provides regular infusions of energy. We feel better about chopping all that wood when we know it's really necessary and can actually see the pile grow. This isn't a trivial need...Hope wants feeding.
But in the midst of the speculation overstimulation I'm going to remember that every season comes to an end and "Come Spring, we'll know."