Not until the voters have been put forth the issue of race and made to think about it.

And it will be put to them. In some form like: "You know that McCain is more seasoned, more like one of us. You also know that 'that one' is not.

Can you risk it? Can you risk 'that one' telling you what to do?"

Despite the surge in the polls--and it'll get more even on its own--it is not up to Obama to close the deal.

If it was Hillary instead of Obama with this lead in October, and the McPalin ticket, she could close the deal.

Had the DNC nominated Hillary though, it'd be McRomney or someone else, and she'd not have this lead at all in the first place.

Get ready for the ghost of Cochran to play the race card if the lead holds going into Halloween!