SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:37 P.M. ET:

NEW POLL – A new CNN poll has the presidential race at 49-46 Obama.  But please note that the poll was taken among registered voters.  Polls of likely voters always show a stronger number for the Republicans.  What continues to be striking is that Obama, again, doesn't break 50%.  That is bad news for any incumbent.

ECHO – Former GE head Jack Welch has joined Rupert Murdoch in warning Mitt Romney that he needs to beef up his staff with a greater number of political pros.  Welch tweets that there's no room for amateurs when fighting Chicago politicians, and advises Romney to listen to Murdoch.  As I've written, I'm actually quite impressed with Romney's staff work, but improvement never hurts.

BATTLEGROUND – There is an enormous battle building in Ohio for the Senate seat currently occupied by ultra-liberal Sherrod Brown.  Republican State Treasurer Josh Mandel, a veteran of Iraq, is giving Brown a run for his money.  Being an ultra-lib, Brown gets funding from all over the country.  The trendies adore him.  But now Mandel has committed to more than $4-million in TV advertising for the last month of the campaign, showing that he can match Brown's effort.  Brown is suddenly trying to sound moderate, but don't be fooled.  He's a lifetime left fielder.

INCREDIBLE – At a time of shrinking defense budgets, the Navy is spending $27 a gallon for a new bio-fuel, instead of the three bucks and change for the old stuff.  Apparently, the purpose is to boost the prospect of using alternative fuels for warships.  The plan is to have half the Navy operating on those fuels by 2020, even though conventional fuels, if we permit decent exploration, should be plentiful.  Think of that cost per gallon the next time the Obamans tell us they have to eliminate another weapons program.

July 2,  2012