The presidential race is too close to call despite new stories on escalating issues (includes video story)

National polls suggest that 19 days before election day, the presidential race is too close to call. 

Numbers have remained tight despite consecutive hurricanes hitting Florida and North Carolina, ongoing conflict in the Middle East, and veteran journalist Bob Woodward’s newest book, “War,” that has many questioning Donald Trump’s relationship with Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Eduardo Gamarra, a political science professor and pollster at Florida international University, says polarization among voters has made an “October surprise,” a significant event that sways election results, less likely.

“Maybe we’re in a situation where there are too many surprises,” said Gamarra. “Because we are so polarized, and because the election will be in the end determined by, pure and simple, one or two percentage points, then it becomes extraordinarily complicated, especially for a pollster, to say, ‘Look, it was the Iran ballistic attack on Israel’ or Woodward’s book.”

He holds that the real poll, of course, is the one on Nov. 5. 

Anthony Cruz is a sophomore majoring in Digital Media and Communications. A first-generation Cuban American, Anthony has been interested in local news since high school and hopes to pursue a career in reporting politics. He is also a lifelong South Florida sports fan.