A reader writes:
First this post, from Friday: "Unless Obama changes the current dynamic, he's going to lose." Then this one, from yesterday: "The leads in Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania are solid – and very dangerous for Romney."
In under a week? C'mon, you've been hammering away on how conservatism is supposed to be about keeping an even keel, maintaining an established sort of balance. It's a horse race, but it's also August. I'd be shocked if Romney doesn't pull ahead nationally at some point (probably post-RNC), or if Obama opens bigger leads. Because it's August 1st.
I know you blog in real time, and we all admire you for it, but hyperventilating on summer polls (not a double entendre) isn't your style.
Yes, I blog in real time and am aware of moodswings.
For a more intense version, I always think of my live-blogging the Palin-Biden debate. For twenty minutes I was losing my shit – before I calmed down, with readers' help. And I still think that the "you didn't build that" dynamic, if Romney succeeds in turning the race into a debate over that, does make Romney a favorite in an economically depressed period. But the last week's data do show a marginally improving Obama position in the electoral college. I can only say I try to balance any one poll with a look at all of them. And I try to keep the emotional roller-coaster of an election campaign a little less melodramatic. But, hey. I care about this election and what it means for America. I'm going to have some bouts of excessive optimism and some moments of deep gloom. It's just who I am. There are other more detached voices out there, if you prefer them.
For a more soothing horse race, here's Rafalca in her Olympic debut.
The Dish 