While you weren’t looking, two new polls came out, one from Zogby and one from Democracy Corps, showing Kerry down two to three points among likely voters. Those results match the Fox News results released yesterday, and the Rasmussen numbers (today’s three-day spread is up to 1.6 points).

Those aren’t the only polls out there, but the narrative that Bush has suddenly surged into a big lead just isn’t supported by the facts available right now. It is, however, capable of becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy if Kerry gets Gored: typed as a bad campaigner so that his “failure” becomes the story.

Would I rather be up than down? Sure. But this isn’t a terrible place for the challenger to be a week after the incumbent’s convention and after a month of pounding. Relax, and get to work.