US News, a newsmagazine we generally respect (as opposed to high-toned scandal sheets like Time and Newsweek) features a strangely biased abberation in their lead article this week.

"Based on focus groups, polling, and interviews with voters across the country," Roger Simon writes, "it seems apparent that the debates have diminished Bush and enhanced Kerry... The 'bounce' that Bush got out of his nominating convention has all but disappeared, as polls show the race a virtual tie."

There are also rhapsodic passages about how, "Kerry's long and craggy face and sonorous speaking style also helped him look presidential to millions of Americans who were viewing him for the first time..."

"Sonorous?" Is that a synonym for "funereal" now?

But back to the polls: We don't think so! Take a look at this table from RealClearPolitics.com summarizing the polls: All of them since October 11th, prior to this article, show Mr. Bush leading except for two in the last two days, which show a tie.

Since October began, we would note, only two (or three, if you count the Newsweek poll that straddled September and October) showed Mr. Kerry in the lead -- despite his craggy face.