TRACKERS

Posted at 1:43 p.m. ET

Both the Rasmussen and Gallup trackers are out, and differ sharply.  Ras has Obama up by one, but Gallup has him up by six.  There are still two more trackers that will post later today.

The key is the trend. No poll now shows McCain ahead, a dramatic turnaround from a week ago, when the reverse was true.  The end of the convention bounce, the effects of the press assault on Sarah Palin (which continues), and the economic crisis, took their toll on McCain.  He's had a bad week.

Can the situation be reversed?  Yes, of course.  But the media now knows how to get at McCain, and it's through economic policy.  Guess what will be emphasized in news reporting?

There can be a reversal.  But McCain must prevent more slippage.  If there's another blow like this last week's, he may be too far gone.  And the McCain team must be prepared for the continuing press assault.  It's not enough to say that there'll be a public backlash against the press.  There will be.  But there'll also be damage, as some of those assaults work. 

First debate this Friday.  That may tell the story.

September 20, 2008.