• Hail Mary vs. Cool Barry
• FactChecking Biden-Palin Debate
• VIDEO: Watch Sarah Palin Read Her Answers In Last Night’s Debate

I am at a loss for words. Ya sure, you betcha.

Unlike the boys and girls over at Daily Kos…the following chart does not reassure me. In fact the trends it shows is that the bottom is going to drop out any day.

Put the needle on the record.

• They Both Lost
• Obama and McCain Display Stark Contrasts
• INITIAL REACTION: OBAMA WINS ON POINTS

Last night I live blogged the debate with my cohorts over at Guys from Area 51 (see parts I and II). In my opinion Obama clearly won the debate, on the issues and in the confidence projected. McCain managed to not be as whiny as usual, to his credit. Here’s the transcript.

That last post couldn’t have been more untimely. Or was it? Irrational exuberance on Obama’s prospects to take the Presidency based on current polling post-Wall St. meltdown is a sign of not having learned anything from the last 8 years. One month is plenty of time for mass amnesia, the kind that a convenient foreign policy development usually brings to the mainstream media and eventually filtering down to the public. It’s more than enough time for McCain and House Republicans to hang this pending bailout around Democrats necks. I can’t believe people are falling for this. Nancy, Harry, Barrack, you’ve been played.

The entire “Politique” series:

You don’t agree? Try it yourself at RealClearPolitics.

(H/T) Sonia.

Siena New York Poll:
With 50 Days Left, New York Is Far From True Blue
Obama’s Lead Falls to 5 Points; Down From 18 Points in June
Obama Seen As Stronger Than McCain on 4 of 6 Issues;
Voters See McCain As Better Than Obama on 4 of 6 of Attributes

Loudonville, NY. Seven weeks until Election Day, the race for President has tightened in New York, with Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) leading Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) 46-41 percent among likely voters, according to a new Siena (College) Research Institute poll released today. Obama’s five point lead is down from eight points in August, 13 points in July and 18 points in June, when he led 51-33 percent. On a series of six questions concerning current issues in the campaign – economy, Iraq, terrorism, health care, America’s position in the world, and education – likely voters believe Obama will do a better job on four. Conversely, out of six attributes voters often look at in choosing a candidate – compassion, patriotism, experience, intelligence, integrity, and leadership – New York’s electorate gives the edge to McCain on four.

“Although New York has long been regarded as a ‘safe’ state for the Democrats in presidential politics, likely voters in the Empire State are currently only giving Senator Obama a five-point cushion,” said Steven Greenberg, spokesman for the Siena New York Poll. “The conventions are over. The running mates are set. And as voters begin to focus on the race, New York’s overwhelming Democratic enrollment advantage is not reflected in how voters tell Siena they plan to vote.”

- Polls are about reliable as the stock market of late. The college’s numbers don’t jive with the big boys. All I know for sure is…McCain is kicking Obama’s ass in the lawn sign and bumper sticker contest. 5 to 1, compared to about 60-40 in the Bush-Kerry contest of 04′.

A nod and a wink to Mr. Fundamental who sent this via e-mail.

…or is the story actually race?

…a wink and a nod to BLCKDGRD.