Hmmm, I'd like to see some analysis of why Romney has pulled into a tighter contest with McCain. Especially after the Schwarzenegger endorsement.

"How fitting that America's greatest state may decide the most exciting election in years."

Yeah, show us the respect we deserve, or we'll secede and take LOST with us.

I'm not surprised by Romney's gains. McCain looked absolutely awful in that last debate.

CFK: You have to put Schwarzenegger's popularity in context. The state GOP likes him because I think they know deep down that their brand of Bill Simon conservatism won't win statewide office, so better Schwarzenegger than an LA or SF liberal. But in terms of a national contest, where a deeply conservative candidate is viable, Schwarzenegger's endorsement repels rather than attracts California conservatives.

Yeah. I didn't think Arnold would help McCain much. My understanding is that conservative activists hate him.

I hope Arnie wears the disdain of the crazies like a badge of honor - those nitwits have lost the Republican party in California for a couple of generations -  neat trick in the state that gave us Reagan.

People love Arnie in CA, he's done a great job with a tough hand.  Thanks Isaac for the "greatest state" compliment to my home state.

Josh Marshall linked to evidence of anti-Obama push-polling in California:

latimesblogs.latimes.com/.../breaking-news-p.html

No doubt about it, this is going to be a close one. Is it still too late for a Gore endorsement? What about via a Super Bowl ad?

The links weren't illuminating, so tell us--Was Huckabee's name missing from the two polls showing Romney in the lead?  If so, these polls tell us nothing about whether he's actually in the lead.

How can you trust anything that can't even the greatest state in the Union right.

CONNECTICUT, dolts, CONNECTICUT!!!!!!!

"How fitting that America's greatest state may decide the most exciting election in years."

Yup. When Super Tuesday proves inconclusive, all eyes will be on Texas.

And they'll discover, eerily, that the eyes of Texas are upon YOU. ;-)

Just some housekeeping here?  Why is it "probably smart" to take the average of the numbers?  If any (or all) of the polls have some problem with methodology, averaging out the numbers isn't going to cure that defect.  

Was that bit of instruction part of the "daily dose" of expertise?

And, by the way, Texas is indeed the greatest state.

Re: the push-polling (latimesblogs.latimes.com/.../breaking-news-p.html - thanks primwa)

It is growing clearer and clearer by the day to me that there is a lean mean "rove-republican style" machine trying to assist Hillary get the nomination, presumably because they would rather run against her.

We've had lie-based rumor-mongering about Senator Obama being a closet Muslim directed at the Jewish Voters (he isn't, by the way, see www.newsweek.com/.../91424.  Not that I care - he could be Zoroastrian and he'd still have my vote).

We've had "Black Power" lies pushed via e-mail to specific communities, and now the "ultimate secret republican weapon" the Push-Poll.

Don't misunderstand me - I do not believe that the Clinton Campaign is behind this.  They play dirty, even sleazy, but they're a head and shoulders above Rove-style "anything goes in a knife fight" politics.  But it seems that some of the knife fighters want to stab Obama in the back to make room for the candidate they truly love... to hate.

Hey, enough with the California, New York, Georgia, Tennessee numbers--all irrelevant.  Wbere are the freakin' Kansas numbers???!!!???

You write, "How fitting that America's greatest state may decide the most exciting election in years." But you don't mention Illinois at all after that!

Thank you, I'll be here all week.