[Hoot Gibson]

I have been anxiously awaiting our resident Gallup fan to fill us in on Obama's declining poll numbers, but none has been forthcoming. nicker:

Election 2012 Likely Voters Trial Heat: Obama vs. Romney

LIKELY VOTERS

[SIZE="5"]Romney 51% +1

Obama 45% -1[/SIZE]

7-day rolling average

Does Obama's slide in the polls and a drubbing facing him in Monday night's foreign policy debate make a desperate, late October surprise between now and Sunday more likely? I think that it does. Obama needs a distraction in the worst possible way. An excuse to dodge the final debate is probably his best shot at a second term.