Busted.

HT to VHABEEB.

Democrats are circulating an internal poll out of Washington State showing incumbent Sen. Patty Murray leading Republican challenger Dino Rossi by five points:

A new internal poll conducted for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee found Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), who faces her stiffest challenge yet in a difficult election cycle, ahead of Republican Dino Rossi 50 percent to 45 percent.

The poll of 968 likely voters was conducted by the Democratic firm Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin, Metz and Associates. It was taken of from Aug. 25-31.

Pop the champagne!  You'd think the DSCC would be pretty stoked by these results, yet they're curiously "unable" to share the poll's margin of error--a crucial element of any survey:

The DSCC was not able to provide the survey's margin of error.

Other recent polls show the race nip and tuck.  The Rossi campaign ought not concern itself with this survey too much, absent adequate details on sample size and methodology.

Meanwhile Survey USA has released several polls out of Murray's home state. One finds a supposedly vulnerable Republican Congressman (Dave Reichert, WA-08) leading by double digits, 54-41.  The other spells trouble for incumbent Democratic Congressman Rick Larsen (WA-02), who's trailing Republican John Koster by four points. 

Unlike the magical Patty Murray internal poll, Survey USA posts helpful sample information: 612 likely voters with a 4-point margin of error.

UPDATE: A reader points out that Survey USA also shows the Republican candidate in WA-03, Jaime Herrera*, out in front of her Democratic opponent in the race to fill a seat vacated by Democrat Rep. Brian Baird.  Gee, I wonder why he's retiring:

It's being reported at Big Government that Barbara Boxer has paid $30,000 since 2004 to secure the endorsement of ethics-challenged Maxine Waters.

The payments break down as follows: $25,000 in 2004 and $5,000 this year.  (Perhaps Water's own ethics problems have reduced the value of her endorsement this year.)

But why in the world is Barbara Boxer -- incidentally, chairman of the committee that saw no problem with Chris Dodd's mortgage funny business -- paying for endorsements?  Surely she garner support some other way . . . .?


In the past, Boxer has said that the ethics problems of her friend Maxine Waters and others aren't going to hurt her campaign.  Perhaps she shouldn't be so sure.

This news creates quite a power vacuum in the vaunted Chicago political machine.  For better or worse, the Daley name has been associated with Chicago governance seemingly forever, and now there's a major opening.  Expect many comers.  Ready for that change of scenery yet, Rahm?



UPDATE: Twitter reaction of the day, via MKH: "@samyoungman Daley not running for reelection. Rahm-shaped hole in the wall of the West Wing."

UPDATE II: The Left's anti-Rahm campaign is already underway.  A group calling itself the "Progressive Change Campaign Committee" is urging Illinoisans to sign a petition that reads:

"I will not support Rahm Emanuel in any future election for Congress, Mayor of Chicago, Governor, or other office. He sold us out on the public option and is a weak Democrat who caves instead of fighting conservatives and corporate power. We won't forget the choices you've made, Rahm."

Yeah, that squishy pseudo-Liberal has really been acquiescing to the right wing constantly, hasn't he?  You show him, Progressives! 

Epistemic closure, anyone?

As if we needed more evidence that Obama's administration has never managed or ran a business.

HT: Benjamin Rush.

We'll let you decide. This appeared in the September 6 issue of NYTimes Upfront magazine with who else on the cover but Barack Obama.

Washington Post fashion reporter Robin Givhan, talking about Michelle Obama’s fashion sense in the Sunday paper:

First lady Michelle Obama returned to the White House last week after spending her summer vacation walking the fine fashion line between comfortably casual and utterly camera-ready. Her travel attire served as a wake-up call to all those American tourists who have blighted the national landscape with their ill-fitting shorts, sad-sack T-shirts and aggressively revealing tank tops: You can do better.

Those of you who are saving a buck by wearing hand-me-downs, beware: the First Lady is judging you. Just as importantly, Robin Givhan is judging you.

H/T: Newsbusters

I was sold after the Cheshire Cat asked Charlie Crist about his support for the stimulus. Then Charlie's alter-ego started punching him in the face.


I die bananas.