The Media Is Skewing the Polls Gabfest

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On this week?s Slate Political Gabfest, Emily Bazelon, John Dickerson, and David Plotz discuss Mitt Romney?s challenges heading into the debates, alleged liberal bias in the media and polling, and important senate races. ?

Here are some of the links and references mentioned during this week's show:

Can Romney win without Ohio? Nate Silver summarizes some alternative paths to victory.

Emily speculates about the cause of Obama?s stronger Ohio polling; one of several explanations, says the New Republic?s Alec MacGillis, is an overemphasis of Obama?s problems with white working-class voters, which seem greater in the South than in the Midwest.

James Fallows plays debate coach in his technique and skill-focused preview.

But John reminds us: Debates usually don?t matter. For a review of the academic research, read John Sides in the Washington Monthly.

David says a new polling site purports to correct a liberal bias in polling. Chris Cillizza has a fact-check on the main argument?that party identification is skewing polls.?

Slate?s Will Saletan observes that the GOP?s national leadership?and money?is making a slow creep back toward Todd Akin.

John chatters about the first photo ever taken of humans, circa1838.

Emily chatters about John?s ?Fresca? project, a look at what criteria we might use if we conducted job interviews for the presidency.

David chatters about the Washington Post?s panda coverage.

Topic ideas for next week? You can tweet suggestions, links, and questions to @SlateGabfest

The e-mail address for the Political Gabfest is gabfest@slate.com. (E-mail may be quoted by name unless the writer stipulates otherwise.)

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