(V) is still traveling, and (Z) has something like strep throat. The rapid test for the most common kind of strep throat came back negative, but tests for the other kinds are pending.

(Z) needs one more day to rest and recover. We'll move the regular Friday post to Saturday, and then do another combined post on Sunday.

Meanwhile, we had a couple of e-mails suggesting that if there's not going to be a posting, we should fill the gap with pictures of staff canine Tuco Hashbrown Chorizo "T.H.C." Bates. You ask, we deliver:

Darcy and Tuco enjoying a treat:

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Tuco indulging in his favorite hobby:

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This chew-bone is supposed to be indestructible. Not only is that not true, but its surrender to Tuco's onslaught has turned it into something vulgar. To borrow a line from Johnny Carson, we didn't even know that chew-bone was Jewish:

Note that we must give credit for the Johnny Carson line to a friend (and reader of the blog) who is themselves Jewish.

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First trip to the dog park:

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A little side-eye shortly after Tuco returned home from the vet, where he had his pocket picked:

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A local restaurant has a painting on the wall that very clearly depicts what it will look like if (when?) Tuco turns to the dark side:

Today's Senate Polls

Michigan remains close, as both candidates have liabilities that aren't going away.

Harper Polling has been around since 2012, and it does do public policy polling. So, they're not some sort of Johnny- or Jill-come-lately firm. A lead of 15 for Cooper is a bit hard to swallow, but the fact is that the very first poll of this race (way back in July of last year) was tied 44%-44%, and Cooper has been ahead in every single one of the 30+ polls since then. Further, his lead has grown over time, such that he's now averaging something like +8%. With polling like that, and with North Carolina being one of the very most expensive states to advertise in (multiple large, non-overlapping media markets), the GOP would be wise to throw in the towel on this one and spend its money elsewhere.

Emerson tends to be a more Republican-friendly house, Siena leans a little in the Democratic direction. So, that probably explains the difference in their numbers. Nonetheless, they both have James Talarico (D) leading.

We don't see any particular reason to doubt that Mary Peltola (D) could win in Alaska. First, she's won statewide before. Second, Alaska isn't THAT red (R+6). Third, it looks to be a blue year. Fourth, everyone else on the four-person ballot is a Republican. Admittedly, one of them (the other Dan Sullivan) is probably a phony Republican. But still, if any candidate is doing to be hurt by ballot exhaustion (people only choose one candidate, and don't other to rank their other choices), it's the real Dan Sullivan. (Z)

State	Democrat	D %	Republican	R %	Start	End	Pollster
Alaska	Mary Peltola	53%	Dan Sullivan*	47%	Sep 08	Sep 11	Fabrizio + Anzalone
Michigan	Abdul El-Sayed	48%	Mike Rogers	45%	Sep 10	Sep 14	Washington Post
Michigan	Abdul El-Sayed	48%	Mike Rogers	46%	Sep 12	Sep 14	Emerson Coll.
North Carolina	Roy Cooper	49%	Michael Whatley	34%	Sep 13	Sep 15	Harper Polling
Texas	James Talarico	47%	Ken Paxton	46%	Sep 12	Sep 14	Emerson Coll.
Texas	James Talarico	49%	Ken Paxton	43%	Sep 08	Sep 11	Siena U.

* Denotes incumbent

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