E Pluribus Unum

Prof. Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia Center for Politics says the following in his latest newsletter:

• At its most effective, a good field operation is worth only one or two points at the ballot box.
  By comparison, Rove, Mehlman & Co. (who have an agenda) put it at 5-7 points.

• New Jersey's Supreme Court justices have come to the luckless GOP's aid
  They may have just influenced several key midterm races [including, Ford v. Corker in Tennessee and, I presume, Kean v. Menendez in NJ itself]. No fundraising visit from Bush, Cheney, Giuliani, Hastert, McCain, Mehlman, or Rove could have done this well for the Republicans.

• Democrats are on track to net 21 to 26 seats in the House, 4 to 6 seats in the Senate, and 5 to 7 governorships.

• The second-to-last week of a campaign is typically the last week voter persuasion actually works.
  Translation: put those jungle drums behind Harold Ford's name in that radio ad.

• Republicans are despondent.
  They fear defeat.

• Democrats are paranoid.
  They fear defeat...will be snatched from the jaws of victory.