In 2007 there were a number of Democrats gearing up to succeed George W. Bush in the White House. The overwhelming front runner was a senator from New York named Hillary Clinton. But her campaign team got overconfident and by June of 2008 another senator, this time from Illinois, had beat her in the primaries. His name was Barack Obama.

The past few days have brought reports of Clinton’s team building a transition team and shifting their focus from the presidential election to ‘down ballot’ contests like senators and representatives. Meanwhile her opponent has doubled down on the presidential contest.

Clinton would be well advised to not make the same mistake twice. Even though the polls are not looking good for Donald Trump, nothing can be taken for a given in this election cycle. The bad polls might actually help Trump as this news tends to subdue his more inflammatory remarks. A less volatile Trump has proven to be more attractive to voters.

Meanwhile, Clinton needs to keep the pedal to the metal and herself and her campaign on message for another 12 days, otherwise she could again find herself snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.