It ain't rocket science

The Washington Post has gone all poll-happy on us (again). Their latest poll says Americans disapprove of Obama's handling of the economy, think the nation is on the wrong track, and, as a result, the president is supposedly in a dead heat with Mitt Romney for the White House. That news, in turn, triggered the tired "Obama is doomed" meme among the political chattering class (again). So, again, here's yet another reality check (this time courtesy of the Washington Monthly): "Horse-race polls a year and a half before an election just don't tell us much, and have little predictive value. They're worth keeping an eye on just to get a sense of the broader trends, but there's no reason for anyone on either side to get worked up about this. Over the next year and a half, a stronger economy will bolster Obama's standing and make him a safe bet for a second term. A weaker economy will put the president's career in jeopardy. This isn’t rocket science." Noting this, of course, is still like shouting into the wind.