Things are going pretty well for Obama. Things would go even better with nine pick-ups in the Senate. It might be worth it for Obama to swing through some states where he could make a difference in a senate race. Oregon is one. Gordon Smith is compaigning on his liberal stances--all one of them-- as if he were Obama. An Obama visit to support Jeff Merkely could take old Gordon down.

I haven't heard either candidate utter the dreaded Nafta word recently. What's up with that? Could be a surprise question in the debate.