SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:55 P.M. ET: 

LAST CALL FROM WAPO:  From the Final Fix, Washington Post:  "In our final rankings of the 2014 Senate field, Republicans are well-positioned to win the six seats they need to retake the majority and have a reasonable chance to claim eight or even nine seats if the national environment continues to move against Democrats in the final days.Of the 13 races in which both parties are spending heavily, Republicans have the top eight pickup opportunities. That includes races that are effectively already over -- open seats in Montana, South Dakota and West Virginia -- as well as badly endangered incumbents like Sens. Mark Pryor (Ark.), Mark Begich (Alaska) and Mary Landrieu (La.). Perhaps most surprising are Republicans' prospects in Colorado and Iowa -- two seats that were long assumed to be likely Democratic holds but, as of today, look like they are tilting slightly toward Republicans."

COLORADO OPTIMISM:  From AP:  "DENVER (AP) -- Republicans are taking a big lead in early voting in Colorado.  A report from the Secretary of State on Friday showed that 104,000 more Republicans than Democrats had cast their ballots as the state conducts its first major mail-in election. Voters can also drop off ballots at polling stations and register through Election Day.  Republicans usually lead in early returns in Colorado but rarely by such hefty margins. Democrats and some observers expect that lead to shrink by Election Day."  Shrink?  That's like saying the Titanic won't hit the iceberg head on.

THE RACE FACTOR – From AP:  "ATLANTA (AP) -- With Republicans confident of reclaiming control of the U.S. Senate, Democrats are looking to black voters in two southern states to help preserve their majority.  Early voting totals suggest reasons for optimism for Sen. Kay Hagan in North Carolina and Democratic hopeful Michelle Nunn in Georgia, as returns from both states show strong turnout in majority Democratic, heavily African-American urban counties. Nunn must offset Republican advantages among whites by having blacks account for about 30 percent of the ballots cast, while Hagan needs the African-American share of the total vote to approach 23 percent, the level it reached in 2008 and 2012."  Sad that people vote this way, but that's our reality.

PAYDAY – From AP:  "URBANA, Md. (AP) -- Drivers scrambled to grab money flying around Interstate 270 in Frederick County after an armored truck and a dump truck collided.  The two trucks hit each other just before 8 a.m. Friday on northbound Interstate 270 at Route 80, near Urbana.  Maryland State Police say the crash sent cash flying from the armored truck, which had drivers stopping to try to scoop some up for themselves. Troopers closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 270 between Route 80 and Route 120 to try to recover the money.  No injuries were reported."  Just a second here.  Just a second.  Are they telling us that an armored truck was in an accident so light that it didn't cause any injuries, but that it burst open and there was money flying all over?  What kind of an armored truck is that?  Oh, I know.  ObamaArmor. 

October 31, 2014