Politicalwire Quickies….Maryland Gov race, Dem’s polling better, OH Gov race close, GOP Senate numbers, The Economy stupid…

O’Malley Pulls Away in Maryland

A new Washington Post poll in Maryland finds Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) leading former Gov. Bob Ehrlich (R) in the race for governor, 52% to 41%.

In May, the race was tied at 47%.

Enthusiasm Gap Closing

A new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll “shows that the battle for control of Congress has tightened, as key Democratic-leaning demographic groups are expressing more enthusiasm about the upcoming midterms.”

Among likely voters, Republicans now hold a three-point lead in the generic-ballot test for control of Congress, 46% to 43%, down from their nine-point lead last month. Among registered voters are split evenly, 44% to 44%.

The pollsters “attribute the tightening to increased enthusiasm for the upcoming midterms by African Americans (who saw a six-point gain in high interest) and Hispanics (who saw an 11-point gain). But young voters, who helped fuel Obama’s presidential victory in 2008, are now sitting on the sidelines. Just 35 percent of those ages 18-34 are enthusiastic about the election in November, versus 65 percent of seniors who say that.”

Dead Heat for Ohio Governor

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll in Ohio finds Gov. Ted Strickland (D) has pulled into a virtual dead heat with challenger John Kasich (R).

Kasich leads by just one point among likely voters, 47% to 46%, after holding a 9-point edge in August.

A new Fox News poll also shows Kasich slipping and has him leading by just two points, 45% to 43%.

Update: A new New York Times/CBS News poll shows Kasich with a 43% to 42%.

Republicans Lead in Key Senate Races

The latest polls from Fox News show only good news for Republicans in key U.S. Senate races around the country:

In Colorado, Ken Buck (R) leads Sen. Michael Bennet (D), 47% to 43%.

In Wisconsin, Ron Johnson (R) leads Sen. Russ Feingold (D), 52% to 44%.

In Washington, Sen. Patty Murray (D) edges Dino Rossi (R), 48% to 47%.

In Illinois, Mark Kirk (R) edges Alexi Giannoulias (D), 42% to 40%.

In Ohio, Rob Portman (R) leads Lee Fisher (D), 50% to 37%.

It is the Economy, Stupid

Tom Jensen sums up the political problem for Democrats: “On our last national poll 49% of respondents said the economy had gotten worse since Barack Obama became President. The folks who thought the economy had gotten worse who had already decided how to vote in November are going Republican by a 92% to 8% margin.”

A Pledge of lies….

If even half this is true???…..

From Jed Lewison @Dailykos……

How bankrupt is the GOP idea machine? So bankrupt that even though they are challenging the governing party during worst economy since the Great Depression, the only way they think they can win is by telling a bunch of lies. FactCheck.org:

FactChecking ‘The Pledge’: Republicans’ “Pledge to America” falls short on some of its facts.

As FactCheck.org reports:

1. Even though in 2010 private sector employment has grown by 763,000 jobs and public sector employment has shrunk, Republicans falsely claim the exact opposite, saying private sector payrolls have shrunk while public sector employment has grown.Even though jobless claims are down eight percent from the trough of the recession and continue to drop, Republicans falsely say they continue to soar.
2. Even though their claim is completely without factual basis, Republicans falsely claim that the IRS is hiring an army of 16,500 IRS agents to investigate Americans…..

More…..

Biden says….Toughten Up!

Quote of the Day

“Stop whining and get out there and look at the alternatives.”

— Vice President Joe Biden, quoted by ABC News, reminding Democrats “this President has done an incredible job. He’s kept his promises.”