Things campaigns say when they're in trouble

By Richard K. Barry

On This Week yesterday, Matthew Dowd, a political contributor for ABC News and former Bush-Cheney advisor, commented on things campaigns say when they are about to lose:

Every time you feel a losing campaign, these three things happen. The first thing happens is, don't believe — the public polls are wrong. That's the first sign of a campaign that's about to lose. The second thing, we're going to change the nature of the electorate, and you're not seeing it reflected in the polls. And the third thing is, the only poll that counts is Election Day. When you hear those things, you know you're about to lose.

Everyone knows it's close, but it is the Romney people who are complaining about the polling and about Gov. Christie's newfound love for President Obama and who just generally seem to be complaining.

It doesn't tell us anything about the outcome other than that Republicans are feeling bad, and that makes me feel good.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)