NEW POLL - GRIM FOR BARACK

Posted at 7:53 p.m. ET

A new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll just released confirms the national trend - Obama is in trouble.

Obama's lead has been cut in half since the last time the poll was taken:

Overall, Obama holds a three-point lead over McCain, 45-42 percent, which is within the survey’s margin of error. That’s down from Obama’s six-point advantage last month, 47-41 percent.

And an analysis:

“Whatever momentum that Obama took into the summer, he really appears to have lost it,” says Republican pollster Neil Newhouse, who conducted the survey with Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart. “It is not a dead heat, but it is close.”

The Democratic convention - Obama's party - is five days away.  Some gift suggestions:  Bring him some modesty.  Bring him a vice president who can be president.  Bring him a sense of respect for the people of his own country.  These gifts are inexpensive, but may be hard to obtain.

Let the combat begin.

Isn't this fun?

August 20, 2008.