If nothing else, in a few weeks we will have another round of data for whose polls matter most and whose are accurate, if any.
A lot of freepers have very dogmatic and condescending opinions about polls ("polls are useless" or "polls tell the whole story"). If these polls hold up and GOP loses, then, we will know that they aren't crap. If the GOP escapes narrowly, we will know they are good within the margin of error. If the GOP wins handily, then we will know that they are in fact crap.
I anticipate that the GOP will narrowly hang on to the Senate, b/c I think Allen wins. But I think we are going to end up with a mere 51 (but, no Chaffee to worry about).
In short, I think the polls are within the margin of error...but who the hell knows at this stage?
I note also that Ohio, PA, Montana and NJ are also very localized elections. If the GOP loses in the first 3, and the dim in NJ, it is b/c of either corruption in the air, or in Santorum's case, b/c the candidate no longer fits the state.
Nothing in this election appears to be out GWB. Not sure if that helps or hurts us, but...I do think we can sort of ignore the polling questions about him. I do not think GWB hurts us at all this election and I think in fact that he has done and is doing all he can to help, in spite of people like Taft and Burns. GWB has always delivered in elections and if we lose, it won't be his fault b/c of the uniquely local aspect of these elections.