SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:08 P.M. ET:

OHIO DEAD HEAT – Ohio is always a swing state, and is one of the most important prizes in the upcoming election. Rasmussen, in a poll out today, has Ohio as dead even, with Romney and Obama each taking 45% of the vote.  The poll was taken among likely voters.  And, by the way, Gallup today has Romney ahead of Obama nationally, for the first time since June.  Romney's lead was two points.  No way to know if the Ryan pick factored in Romney's advance.

NEW UPROAR – Last week it was a pro-Obama ad suggesting that Mitt Romney was responsible for a woman's death.  Today it was Joe Biden, speaking before a Virginia audience that was heavily African-American, saying that Romney intended to put "y'all back in chains."  The Romney campaign, showing some emotion for a change, expressed outrage.  Romney told Obama to "take your campaign of division and anger and hate back to Chicago."  The Democratic campaign has thus far been one of the meanest on behalf of an incumbent president that I've seen in my lifetime.  Oh, by the way, Biden also said in Virginia that, with the help of the people in the local crowd, he and Obama could win North Carolina.  Can you imagine the press reaction if a conservative had said that?

BIZARRE – A nuclear-powered Russian missile submarine cruised undetected for several weeks, and its presence was confirmed only after it left the area, according to the Washington Free Beacon.  The paper further states:  "The stealth underwater incursion in the Gulf took place at the same time Russian strategic bombers made incursions into restricted U.S. airspace near Alaska and California in June and July, and highlights a growing military assertiveness by Moscow."  I guess Obama's "reset" with Russia just hasn't panned out.  But remember, the Russians are just misunderstood, and still angry at Reagan.

PRIMARIES – There's a critical primary today in Wisconsin for the Republican Senate nomination.  Popular former Governor Tommy Thompson is favored, but has faced unexpectedly stiff opposition.  This is a critical Senate race, with potential for a Republican pickup of the seat currently held by retiring Democrat, Herb Kohl.  The Democratic candidate, Tammy Baldwin, is a movement leftist from the People's Culturally Sensitive Republic of Madison.  Meanwhile, in Florida, spirited (and controversial) Congressman Allen West, a black Republican, has easily won nomination in a newly formed congressional district.  He is a primary target of national as well as state Democrats, who can't stand the idea of an African-American congressman thinking independently. 

August 14, 2012