Poll numbers holding

Interesting things happening with the poll numbers. The popular vote gap is tightening just a bit with McCain apparently getting a slight uptick of 1% from uncommitteds but leaving Obama still with an average lead of about 6.0%. Unless Richard's fears of a large hidden anti-black vote materialize -- or we have some major cataclysmic event -- there seems no way McCain can win. His smears have hardly made a dent, he has no ground game, little money, and no new ideas.

And the state electoral poll is actually widening in Obama's favor.

RealClearPolitics has now moved Georgia, Montana, and North Dakota into the toss up category, along with Florida, North Carolina, Indiana, and Missouri. And West Virginia and Arizona are now "leaning" to McCain instead of solid. He's had to start running robocalls in his own state.

Virginia, Ohio, Colorado, and New Mexico continue to be leaning to Obama. One new Pennsylvania poll gives Obama only a 4% edge, but other recent polls give 7, 9, 11, 12, and 14%, despite McCain's making an all out effort there. With his solid and leaning states, Obama has 311 electoral votes -- enough to win with 41 votes to spare -- without having to win any of the toss up states.

Ralph