A new UNH poll shows Republican Mike Minogue gaining some ground on Gov. Maura Healey, the Herald reports.  The only problem: He’s still 16 points behind the incumbent Democrat with just over a month to go before the November election. The new UNH survey shows Healey leading Minogue 54 percent to 38 percent, which is a slight improvement for Minogue over the 54-32 numbers in August.

I assume Minogue’s somewhat appealing gas-tax-suspension idea had something to do with his small poll gain, combined with his plunking down millions of his own money on the race. But what fascinates me is how Healey’s numbers seem stuck. No movement. And that’s probably because she’s been running to the left on many issues – from abortion to immigration — and that’s not where the new votes are located. She’s clearly committed to a shore-up-the-base strategy, not an expand-the-base strategy. Which isn’t necessarily a bad idea. It’s a deep blue state, after all. Still, it makes for a dull run-out-the-clock strategy.

Re the ‘moves the needle’ headline above: it comes from my most recent Substack newsletter. And while I’m at it, feel free to sign up for the newsletter. It’s indeed free.