Bush Non-Reality Campaign Starting to Sweat

Buried in this WP lackluster story is the news that the Bush campaign is very worried - he is not winning in the states he needs.

GOP officials who talked to Bush-Cheney campaign leaders said the leaders have grown more worried about Ohio, Florida and other key states where Bush lacks a lead with just 10 days until the election. One Republican official described the mood at the top of the campaign as apprehensive. " 'Grim' is too strong," the official said. "If we feel this way a week from now, that will be grim."

It was the third time in eight days that Bush had devoted an entire day to campaigning in Florida, and the dramatic stagecraft underscored the conclusion of his aides that -- as in 2000 -- the election will come down to Florida.

The Republican official said polling for Bush showed him in a weaker position than some published polls have indicated, both nationally and in battlegrounds. In many of the key states, the official said, Bush is below 50 percent, and he is ahead or behind within the margin of sampling error -- a statistical tie.

"There's just no place where they're polling outside the margin of error so they can say, 'We have this state,' " the official said. "And they know that an incumbent needs to be outside the margin of error."

As typical with the Washington Post they bury this inside the paper and have a misleading headline and opening paragraphs. They have Dana Milbank, who I consider along with Pincus their best reporter doing little odds and ends. The Washington Post which is righfully ashamed of its recent performance under Bush gave a tepid endorsement to Kerry. This post and links inspired by Pacific Views.

The big blogosphere story

is that the US didn't guard a huge warehouse full of high explosives, 350 tons worth, and the insurgents have been using them against US troops and the White House has been keeping this story hidden since it occurred 18 months ago. The media is falling for the White House and Pentagon spin.