The best news all week is this report of Obama's decision "to play it safe." NFL fans know what this means: A hair raising close that can go against the team that plays against the deep threat only.
If you have any doubt about the volatility of presidential elections,
be sure to read E.J. Dionne's piece on the subject from 1988, and the background on the 1992 British elections in which John Major was expected to lose, but in fact stayed Prime Minister. See:
The Shy Tory Factor for interesting background.