The Trump, Harris race is tighter than it should be. What gives?

With less than six weeks to go before Election Day, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are still in a close race. CNN has Harris up one point; Quinnipiac has Harris and Trump tied. One week into October 2020, Joe Biden had a slight lead. We’ll see where Harris is in two weeks.  
A tight race raises questions about the candidates’ efficacy and voters’ excitement. I could make the case that either candidate should have a clear lead in the polls by now. 
Harris has the advantage of jumping into race late and after Biden failed badly during the June debate with Trump. Yet, Harris can’t seem to surge ahead.  
The same can be said about Trump. He has the advantage of running as a former president with a solid record, especially on the economy before the pandemic. He’s had legal bumps in the road since then, but none have derailed him.  
So, what gives?  
Both candidates lack certain strengths that would make them really stand out or weaknesses that make their opponent a sure bet.  
While Harris made new economic announcements Wednesday, they weren’t compelling.  
Trump has strong positions on the economy and immigration but can’t articulate his policies persuasively beyond his committed base. On Wednesday, he started hawking $100 coins with his likeness on them.  
My column: Trump is now hawking $100 coins. Why can’t he focus on running for president?
Voters also are more polarized than ever, and the ideological and political split means that neither candidate can pull ahead definitively. The race will likely come down to who turns out to vote and how independents choose to vote this year. 
In nine battleground states, voting rules, including laws about absentee voting, have changed since 2020. That also could affect who votes and how. 
Why do you think the race is still so tight? Does it change your vote? Email me at [email protected].