SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 8:21 P.M. ET: 

AKIN PAIN – Todd Akin, the embattled GOP Senate candidate from Missouri, is refusing to withdraw from the race, despite appeals across the Republican spectrum.  Mitt Romney made a direct public appeal to him today.  The Dems are already trying to link Paul Ryan, specifically, to Akin, because they once co-sponsored a piece of legislation in the House.  This is guilt-by-association, normally denounced routinely by Dems as a form of McCarthyism, but perfectly okay when practiced by them.  Akin's absurd comment, that women have a built-in defense mechanism to prevent pregnancy in incidents of rape, has been absolutely denounced within the Republican Party, but Dems don't care.  Akin's ego trip in staying in can only hurt his party and his country.  We hope the pressure on him continues. 

MORE MADNESS – Republican platform writers in Tampa have adopted a rigid anti-abortion plank, allowing for no exceptions.  Mitt Romney is making it clear that, while he is pro-life, he does not accept the absolutism in the plank.  Platforms are normally ignored after conventions, but you can be sure that Dems will point to the plank as another example of the GOP's "war on women," an absurd position.  It is simply ridiculous, though, for the ideological soldiers in the party to give Democrats an issue on a silver platter.  Americans almost always reject rigid ideology in favor of practical idealism.  Obama is way ahead among single women, and this will not help. 

BUT THERE ARE SMILES, TOO – Some polling results just out give us some reason for cautious optimism.  A new poll shows Romney jumping ahead in Michigan, his native state, and the state where his father was governor.  McCain didn't even campaign in Michigan in 2008 because the state is so Democratic.  If Romney can be competitive in Michigan, we may be drinking champagne on election night.  Another poll shows Romney one point up in Wisconsin, Paul Ryan's home state.  And a third poll shows Romney strong in the suburban areas of Cook County, around Chicago, possibly endangering Obama's capture of his own home state.  We stress that these polls vary in quality and are snapshots in time.  We don't take them to the bank.  Also, today's Gallup tracker continues to have Romney two points ahead nationally, and shows an increase in disapproval for Obama.

GOOFBALL – There are some serious reports that Vice President Joe Biden plans to show up at the Republican convention in Tampa next week.  His office confirms that he'll be campaigning in the Tampa area on Monday and Tuesday.  Secret Service agents have been telling people in Tampa they're doing advance work for Biden's trip.  There's something very tacky about this, but, hey, look who we're talkin' about.  I suspect that Biden will try to draw attention away from the Republicans, but will look foolish in the process.  In other words, he'll be himself.  It's possible a hurricane may hit Florida on Monday.  It will get more attention than Biden.

August 21,  2012