There are currently 3 diaries about the latest Rasmussen poll, which only shows Obama up 3.
A few thoughts to stem back the impending panic.
I, like many of you, am suffering from PESD--Pre-Election Stress Disorder. I will admit that I have been reading Kos and Huffingtonpost and RealClearPolitics and 538 as if my life depended on it.
I have been neglected my training (I run half-marathons); I have been craving cinnamon rolls like a fiend. This is going to be a difficult week no matter how you slice it; we are on the brink of something huge. For me it is the biggest political event in my life for the good. So I deserve to overeat, phonebank endlessly (and yes, my cell phone bill is over $500), and spend my time reading blogs that keep reminding me there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
There is an old black spiritual I love: "There's a light at the end of the tunnel...the inside might be as dark as the night, but at the end of the tunnel there's a light."
About the Rasmussen poll today. Don't sweat it. No matter what polls say, up or down, we all need to be doing the same thing. Phonebanking. Door knocking. GOTV. One last $25 donation (if possible). Take some Halloween cookies down to those volunteers at the Obama office. As Jeff Lieber points out, stock up on umbrellas or clean out your basement.
And think about this. After tonight's 30 minute program, Obama will get a bounce. Every time the American people listen to him for any extended period of time, he comes away with renewed support and fresh supporters. In two days, Rasmussen will have him up by 7, and if they don't, they are fudging the numbers. So don't worry. People will be talking about the special tonight from tonight until Monday. Then, we vote Tuesday.
It's brilliant. And just to pat my own back--if it is in a reality TV format, that is an idea I floated back during the primaries in a diary called "This may be a stupid idea but..." If you scroll back through my history you'll find it. At any rate, it's going to a smashing success and the polls will give us a big bounce as a result.
Don't underestimate our ground game (and don't neglect it). Let's not panic. Let's work instead. Ignore the polls as much as you can. There have been so many twists and turns in this road, in this journey. There were so many moments when I felt like "OH God, We're done for!" And I was wrong. Let's not go there when we are on the cusp of taking our country back.
Do what Barack is doing today. Go talk to some voters. And stay calm. We'll win if don't give up.