A new poll by Zogby International for Reuters, C-SPAN, and the Houston Chronicle shows the race virtually tied in Ohio:

44% Clinton
42% Obama
1% Gravel
5% Other
9% Unsure

Analysis here by Ohio Daily blog.

Too funny. Watch the video.

The Stubborn Liberal wonders…

Why don't we see crowds at the McCain rallies?

Why don't we see the GOP fundraising numbers?

Did you notice the other day McCain did a little backtracking on his statements about the Iraq war?

Full post here.

This thing does stick in your head...

Plunderbund looks at the numbers.

Sen. John McCain picked up the support of Texas pastor John Hagee, an evangelical Christian who has made support for the state of Israel a centerpiece of his ministry.

The Reverend asks:

Why would an Evangelical Christian leader, like Hagee, center his "ministry" on support of a religious people who do not believe in nor accept Jesus of Nazareth as Lord and Saviour? What's the real reason for Hagee's support for Israel?

From Psychobilly Democrat:

Yesterday, the two Democrats still standing debated in Cleveland, land of poverty, foreclosure, and job loss.

We get the feeling that had John Edwards had the chance to grace CSU last night, the content of the debate would have been much different. Remember, with poverty a central theme of his campaign, Edwards came to Cleveland last year to tour neighborhoods devastated by poverty.

True, not all is gloomy in the Western Reserve. But a wicked combination of energy price increases and slow wage growth has even those with jobs counting every last penny. [Dominion, btw, announced today its intention to raise rates again.]

Read the full post.

ProgressOhio has a "Where's Waldo" moment at McCain's now imfamous Ohio stop with Bill "red meat" Cunningham:

Yes, it's Ohio's own Gay Right's and Abortion Rights hater, Rod Parsley.

In September of last year, Parsley rallied his "Christan Soldiers" to give money to fight Federal Hate Crimes legislation.

Will McCain "reject and denounce" the support of Parsley? Will the media even question him on Parsley's record as they did with Obama and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan?

Don't hold your breath on that one.

See Also:
For Only $50 Rod Parsley Will Protect You From the Gays

See the photos.

Ohio Daily Blog has this video. While it's pure campaign material, William J. Rausch of Marengo, Ohio is a compelling character.

Watch for the older men at the end of the video.

The Reverend on the media:

Yesterday, I suppose because of the debate, it was a banner day for this very responsible and serious form of journalism.

Matt Drudge put up a picture the other day of Obama from a couple years back where Barack is seen dressed in a turban and other traditional African garb. The displaying of the picture was not meant to flatter Obama but rather, to place a seed of doubt in viewer's minds. Hey, maybe Obama is Muslim. That was Drudge's purpose. Many politicians have adorned themselves with the fashions of the country that they have visited. This is nothing new,…..or even interesting. Obama's visiting another country was not Drudge's calculated purpose for putting the photo up. Grasping for ANYTHING that might suggest Muslim connections…..that was Drudge's, and the mainstream media's, intent.

This of course, like pictures of Brittney getting in or out of her car, is not newsworthy. However, newsworthiness has nothing to do with the modern media, and therefore that picture was shown dozens of times by all the main media players.

The fact that Drudge put the picture up……that's the news story to the MSM. To a substantial number of journalists and reporters Matt Drudge IS the news. Even though he has proven to be nothing but a right-wing super-hack, main media still acts beholden. NBC hacks went as far as to display the picture again last night during the debate.

The most vile example recently of this deceitful yet wilfull practice was the main media's handling of the radio wingnut, Bill Cunningham, and the video of him talking yesterday. From the stage, prior to John McCain speaking in Cincinnati, the fact-free, extremist, right wing radio talk show host railed in typical neo-nut buffonish style, totally bogus accusations and smears against Barack Obama .

Chris Matthews, CNN and even PBS indulged in the nauseating replay of this total extremist nut's video clip yesterday. As these wise and serious media networks played segments of Cunningham's rancid rant on stage, the anchors or moderators all wagged their heads and scrunched their foreheads up, shocked, just shocked, that this wingnut could say the things he said. I'm surprised no one fainted dead away.

All the time they were shaking their head in Pharisaic disagreement, they were giving their many viewers the great opportunity to hear, over and over, this radio wingnut's "message" against Obama. Matthews of MSNBC could barely hold back his glee as he spun the tape again and again. Chrissy couldn't contain that stupid sissy grin of his. It kept reappearing everytime he asked a stooge guest, "what do you make of this."

All this is no different from asking a question repeatedly about Brittney's practice of going out without underwear while continually looping a video clip of Brittney getting out of a car.

This is how the establishment media intends to cover the general election campaign.

Read the full post.