Without a lengthy piece, I can say when I saw the DNC in 2016, I was convinced Hillary had it. The GOP convention was so secular and so bizarre, I just thought it would never work. As it got closer, I was more concerned, but still, the common knowledge was that Hillary had it, and we didn't know the divided nature of the campaign. I remember being in a movie, I think to see Moonight or Elle, and seeing the story that the Huma Abedin emails had been cleared, and I felt it was still a lock.
I still knew though, that as the only other person in a 2 person race, he 100% had a chance.