Some of this hand-wringing and defeatism will be from Republican operatives meant to instill terror and dissent on the boards. A demoralized enemy is easier to defeat.

Some of this hand-wringing and defeatism will be malicious attacks from those who have an axe to grind against Obama and his supporters, such as Markos Moulitsas. When the victor fails, it

Despite a summer of healthy (but slim) poll margins, Sen. Obama now finds himself in a closer race with John McCain.

Perhaps it was a week of vacation?
Perhaps it was exhaustion over the VP pick?
Perhaps it was slight missteps?
All are speculation, and the Obama campaign itself has not blinked, choosing to campaign in Georgia today.

Regardless, it cannot be denied that there has been an ever so slight downturn in Obama polling (almost always followed by a rebound, as seen in the primary).

Of course, when delving further, the poll metrics point to a bleaker future for John McCain that coarse general election numbers show. McCain has only once broken the 44% ceiling in the Gallup national tracking poll, and Barack has never fallen below is 44% floor, losing to John McCain only once and tying three times in the past month.

But democrats will always seem to panic at the sight of their own shadow. I remember even in late summer of 1992, on the eve of our first victory in 16 years, there was worrying about whether Bill Clinton could close the deal. He got booed at a NASCAR event, and all of a sudden it was going to be another 4 years of Bush 41.

Sen. Obama has been marvelous at not ceding issues to the Republicans, but one issue we as democrats ceded decades ago was confidence.

You don't see Republicans angsting in public over the (much unhealthier) McCain poll numbers? Sure, some arch-conservatives fumed when McCain became the nominee. He is, after all, their worst nightmare. But all dissent within the ranks was quickly quelled.

Democrats are currently in the midst of a panic attack over Sen. Obama. Outlying, superficial downturns the past week.

The blood in the water is not from Sen. Obama - it's from us.

And the media sharks have started to pick up on it. The last thing we need is a media meme that Democrats are worried about Obama. What undecided person wants to vote for someone his ardent supporters are worrying about in a manner that would embarrass even neurotic Woody Allen?

Confidence is contagious, and it is time for us to start cheerleading.

Stow your emotions until November 5th. You don't see Republicans expressing fear over who John McCain will pick (he does have the luxury of not being able to do any worse than he already is). Stop second guessing and get over yourselves.

Now let's hear it like we did in South Carolina: U-S-A! U-S-A!

I can't hear you. Louder! Drown the delusional pumas and mctrolls out. Drown out the hand-wringers, second guessers, and defeatocrats.

U-S-A!
U-S-A!