ELECTION LATEST – AT 8:44 A.M. ET:  Some late developments from pollsters and observers:

Florida appears to be swinging heavily into the GOP column in the state's Senate race.  Marco Rubio is up by as much as 20 points over Charlie Crist.  If Rubio wins in a blowout Tuesday, he'll likely be first pick for the vice presidential slot on the 2012 GOP ticket. 

Joe Miller, the official GOP candidate for the Senate from Alaska, is in serious trouble, according to a new poll.  Lisa Murkowski, the incumbent senator, who lost the GOP nomination for her job to Miller, is surging as a write-in.  Sarah Palin went to Alaska to boost Miller, and, if Miller loses, it's a prestige blow to Palin.  Sarah will also be going to West Virginia to campaign for the GOP Senate candidate, John Raese, who is now slipping behind the popular Democratic governor, Joe Manchin, who is running as a staunch conservative who has barely heard of Barack Obama, or even Washington, D.C.

One thing about Sarah Palin – she puts herself on the line, and she can get burned.

Meanwhile, back at the executive mansion, Mr. Obama's approval rating has plunged to 41 percent in the latest Fox poll.  That is pathetic, and I think this latest drop may well involve resentment at the extent of the president's campaigning.  A few campaign trips, okay.  But this is getting nonstop, and involves vast public expenditures for Air Force The One, and extensive security.  And that doesn't include drinks and snacks.

October 30, 200