While many Democrats in red states and districts do not want President Obama to campaign for them, former President Bill Clinton is welcome everywhere and is criss-crossing the country campaigning for Democrats. Despite the fact that Republicans once hated him so much they impeached him, he is now one of the most popular politicians in the country, with an approval rating of 55%. He will campaign tomorrow in West Virginia for Gov. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and in Kentucky for Attorney General Jack Conway (D) as well as in Arkansas for Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), who needs all the help she can get.
Also out on the hustings is Vice President Joe Biden. Historically, Veeps have functioned as hatchet men, doing the attacking so the President can have clean hands. To some extent this year we have an unusual division of labor. While Bill Clinton and Biden are playing good cop/bad cop, the President himself is remaining aloof and above the fray for the most part.
That's the headline of a story by Thomas Holbrook. He looks at polls taken in the final 15 days of previous elections and concludes that most polls are within 5% of the final outcome, but that only 79% of the results fall within the margin of error (in principle, 95% should be).
| State | Democrat | D-pct | Republican | R-pct | I | I-pct | Start | End | Pollster |
| Kentucky | Jack Conway | 40% | Rand Paul | 43% | Oct 04 | Oct 06 | Braun Research | ||
| New York | Kirsten Gillibrand* | 54% | Joseph DioGuardi | 35% | Oct 05 | Oct 07 | SurveyUSA |
| Cong. Distr. | Democrat | D-pct | Republican | R-pct | I | I-pct | Start | End | Pollster |
| CA-18 | Dennis Cardoza* | 50% | Michael Berryhill | 44% | Oct 05 | Oct 07 | SurveyUSA | ||
| KS-04 | Raj Goyle | 40% | Mike Pompeo | 53% | Oct 06 | Oct 07 | SurveyUSA |