SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 9:56 P.M. ET:

ROMNEY CROWD NUMBERS – Even the liberal-leaning AP concedes in a story today that Romney's crowds are surging as the election draws near.  That doesn't guarantee victory, but there is clearly a new burst of enthusiasm for the GOP candidate, who emerged a hero after his debate with Barack Obama.  The two go at it again this week, but Obama must stop the Romney march, a problem he hadn't had earlier.

THE OLD LEFTISTS' NETWORK – David Chalian, the former Yahoo Washington bureau chief who was fired after being caught on tape saying Republicans would be happy to have black people drown in a hurricane, is now employed again, working as a vice president at The Politico.  Why should anyone be surprised?  The Politico, which began well, has been drifting more and more to the left, destroying the greatest asset a news site can have – credibility.

STUNNING – A new RealClearPolitics electoral map shows Obama with only 10 solid states, and Romney with 13.  However, Obama's 10 have 142 electoral votes and Romney's 13 have only 76.  Overall, RCP has Obama with 201 electoral votes, and Romney with 181, with 156 tossups.  It shows how difficult this race still is.  It also shows how catastrophic has been our loss of California, once a Republican state with Ronald Reagan as its governor.  It is now solidly Democratic, even left-wing Democratic, with 55 electoral votes.  The largest solid Romney state is Alabama, with nine electoral votes.  Plenty of work to do for Romney, but he's getting it done!

WHO CARES? – Ron Paul announced today that he will not endorse Mitt Romney for president.  Maybe the Republican National Committee will now tell Mr. Paul that his membership card got lost in the mail.  And maybe Mr. Paul will now get lost himself.  He actually said in an interview that he saw no real difference between Obama and Romney.  Geez.

October 12,  2012