The RealClearPolitics.com average of polls is quite a fascinating barometer of the nation’s political mood.

Consider this bit of information from the latest surveys.

According to RCP, Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton holds a 5.8 percent lead nationally over Republican opponent Donald J. Trump.

Remember, this is an average of polls — some of which lean left, others of which lean right. The RCP average factors all of them.

Now, when you add Libertarian Party nominee — and former New Mexico Republican governor — Gary Johnson into the mix, you see something a bit different. Clinton leads the three-way race by 5.3 percent over Trump.

What does that mean? It means to me, at least, that Johnson is pulling nominally more from Clinton than from Trump.

It kind of reminds me of the canard that’s been tossed around since 1992 about how Ross Perot “cost” President Bush his re-election effort against Bill Clinton. The reality was that Clinton was going to win that election anyway, by roughly the same margin with which he won.

Is Gov. Johnson going to become an election spoiler? I don’t see it. At least not yet.

Then again, this is now. These things do change … don’t they?