TRACKERS

Posted at 2:03 p.m. ET

Both our standard trackers are now out, and both tell the same story - McCain up by one in both the Rasmussen and Gallup polls, his lead steadily deteriorating.  I would not be shocked to see Obama in the lead again by the end of the week.

And Obama has just jumped into a four-point lead in the Hotline daily tracker.

We'd said some days ago that the results in the middle of this week would tell us whether the McCain convention bounce lasts.  Actually, he's held up reasonably well.  He's still ahead in two of the three trackers, but the bounce has a bit less bounce in it.

We've now seen a trend over four or five days.  The shock to the economy from Wall Street, and the continued destruction of Sarah Pal in by the media, cannot help McCain.

Once again we recall the old adage that a week is a lifetime in politics.  The McCain people must discipline their campaign, get on their economic message, keep their ads accurate, and try to stop the destruction of Sarah. 

Last week, Mark Penn, a Clinton consultant, said that the media is the big loser in this campaign because of its behavior.  Yes, it's a loser if we're talking about credibility.  It's a winner if it elects its sixties dream - Barack Obama.  Credibility isn't the media's thing anymore.  It's filled with leftists who want to "make a difference."  They may make that difference.

Very tough fight ahead.  Dead even, but momentum is starting to shift back to Obama.

September 16, 2008.