More backbiting arguments (and some sheer pettifoggery) today than any real news. Here are a few items for your nourishment:

* Gallup Tracking has Romney LV lead down one to 51-45, with Obama’s job approval still at 50%. But PPP has Romney up by a point in both Iowa and New Hampshire (per Twitter; links not up yet).

* Obama coins new word–“Romnesia”–for convenient forgetfulness about past policy positions. Catching on fast in Twitterverse.

* RCP’s Caitlin Huey-Burns profiles battle for NOVA. Hard to believe VA part of Obama’s “firewall” couple of weeks ago.

* Joe Walsh adds self to House GOP anti-science club with idiotic claim that abortion never necessary to save women’s lives.

* BLS releases state unemployment stats for September; Greg Sargent mulls connection to Obama’s midwestern strength.

And in non-political news:

* CNN has nice slide-show of autumn colors ’round the Northern Hemisphere.

Back after I move computer upstairs to make room for guest.

Ed Kilgore

Ed Kilgore is a political columnist for New York and managing editor at the Democratic Strategist website. He was a contributing writer at the Washington Monthly from January 2012 until November 2015, and was the principal contributor to the Political Animal blog.