I was considering the Electoral Map today, as I do everyday, in light of today's polls. And while it still looks like a likely Obama win, a shift that I believed would possibly happen is apparently happening.
Republican Mitt Romney has bottomed out and is beginning to recover. Perhaps Barack Obama's campaign has peaked. Some polls out today show the president still leading the challenger but only by 2 or 3 points -- and well within the margin of error.
Yes, the Electoral Map looks much the same as last week. I'd say the president has a strong hold on around 247 electoral votes to Romney's 191. That hasn't changed. But the margins in the swing states has narrowed as Romney has picked up greater support among independent voters. As a result, Wednesday night's first debate will matter more than ever to both men.
I generally have felt that debates such as these don't change things unless one candidate makes a big mistake. given the practice these guys have been doing I doubt that will happen. And both sides have tried to play down expectations.
But now I think this will be a game-changer. Either the president surges further ahead or the race will narrow even more by Thursday morning. Only time will tell. We will probably have to look at the electoral map in a whole new light this weekend.
Those foot steps you hear back there are Romney's.
UPDATE:
The president tanked in the first debate and recovered in debates No. 2 -- where he spanked Romney on a minor point -- and No. 3. Plus he had a good ground game on Election Day and was re-elected, winning with more than 50 percent of the popular vote and with well over 300 Electoral Vote. mbd.
