The National Review devoted an entire issue of its conservative magazine to making the case against Donald Trump, but now its editor is acknowledging the reality of a potential Trump administration.

National Review editor Rich Lowry said in a column published Friday that the Republican nominee is "a few big breaks and a couple of sterling debate performances away from being elected the 45th president of the United States."

In recent weeks, Trump shook up his campaign staff by appointing a longtime GOP strategist to run the operation, and a media mogul to act as one of his top executives. The candidate has delivered several policy speeches and, to much acclaim, met with Mexico's president.

"None of this required strategic genius, only a decision not to throw away the election with repeated episodes of self-indulgent stupidity," Lowry wrote. "Democrats should be feeling a creeping sense of panic."

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, until recently, had the advantage over Trump in both national and swing-state polls. But she saw her lead erode in the past few weeks under new revelations about her email controversy and new questions about her health.

Lowry said that Clinton still has the edge but, "if Trump can hoist himself over the bar of acceptability, he might give the voting public enough permission to make this the change election it is naturally inclined to be."