Live Q&As

Wisconsin, like the rest of the upper Midwest, has moved away from Democrats -- due in large part to dissatisfaction with the political status quo.

And, while unemployment -- as you note -- is below where it is in the rest of the country, there still seems to be a sense that the establishment has failed the state.

Remember that Wisconsin has always rewarded politicians with a bit of a populist streak -- in that way it's like Minnesota -- and so Feingold's initial success was built on the idea that he was not of or from Washington.

He's now been in Washington for 18 years, which makes that argument harder to sell. And, Ron Johnson, his Republican opponent, has never run for any office before.

There can be only one true Halloween costume for political junkies: Dale Peterson.

Get a cowboy hat and a BB gun and every once in a while yell out: "WE ARE BETTER THAN THAT".

Alternative costume: Phil Davison. Dress in a dark suit and white shirt and just keeping saying: "I have been a Republican in times good and I have been a Republican in times bad...and I WILL NOT APOLOGIZE FOR MY TONE."

Um, I think you wondered into the wrong chat.

But, since we are on the topic: Thank you Joe Flacco for deciding to return to form in Week 3 -- thereby saving the Fix fantasy football team from total annihilation.

I think the idea that Kasich was ever up 17 points -- as the Quinnipiac poll showed -- was a bit far fetched.

Most people I talk to who have seen private campaign polling in the race say it is a 4-7 point lead for Kasich, which is consistent with most though not all of the public polling.

Strickland has closed a bit thanks to an onslaught of TV ads hammering Kasich for the time he spent on Wall Street after leaving Congress.

Remember that Kasich's lead was built in August when the Republican Governors Association dominated the TV airwaves with ads hitting Strickland for the job losses in the state in the last four years.

Now that Strickland is at spending parity -- or better -- statewide, his numbers are coming back.

This is going to be a close one.

Democrats feel very good with where they are in this race. Scott emerged very damaged from the primary race against Bill McCollum and has a relatively short period of time to re-shape his image before the fall election.

What Scott has on his side is money -- lots and lots of it.

Neither Scott nor Sink is a world-beater as a candidate but today you have to give the Democrat the edge.

Not sure.

Anytime you put out a document like that, it immediately becomes a target. That's why there was so much internal debate within the GOP about actually putting out the "Pledge".

My guess is that Republicans believed -- and believe -- that while they would take hits for the Pledge it was still the right move because they have to show voters that they have a plan to govern in order to close the deal this fall.

It's a risk, for sure.

Catholic field hockey shirt, glasses and a massive amount of coolness -- and you can't buy that at some costume shop!

If you can't find the "coolness",  douse yourself with a gallon or so of Drakkar Noir; you will then be Chris Cillizza circa 1991.

Um...this is embarassing....not sure the right way to say this...I don't watch "Mad Men".

I know, it will stun you that a guy so hip as me doesn't watch.  It's hard to get one's mind around.

But, I feel like I am too far behind to start watching now. Or, is this a "Wire" situation where I need to go back and start at season one on DVD.

Is "Mad Men" un-missable?

I mentioned this in my Friday chat -- now coming to you from Northside Social in Arlington! -- but I think the Republican calculation was based on GOP pollster Glen Bolger's contention that this is an 80-20 election.

It's 80 percent about Democrats and 20 percent about Republicans. The Pledge is aimed at fulfilling that 20 percent -- showing voters that Republicans are serious about governing.

I think Democrats are feeling better about where things stand than they did a month ago but there is LOTS of conflicting data out there.

Politico's poll this am had Republicans +4 on the generic, for example.

I am not sure how Elmo got into this question but I can tell you that Fix Jr. just nodded approvingly.

"Desperate times call for what......YES, who said that??? Desperate measures!"

Truer words were never spoken. When I run for office, my slogan will be: "Chris Cillizza, because desperate times call for desperate measures."

I was waiting for the Joe McCarthy reference....

I think that Chet Edwards is a terrific politician who has held that VERY Republican district much longer than anyone thought he would.

I also think that this may be the worst national political environment in which he has had to run.

Edwards could do everything right and still lose due to the demographics of that district.

Democrats hope so.

There's a general consensus that Sestak is down between 4-7 points at the moment to Toomey.

Sestak has shown an ability to come from behind in all of his past political campaigns including his primary upset of Arlen Specter earlier this year.

I don't underestimate Sestak's political abilities. But, this is a tough environment for him to run in Pennsylvania as Democrats nationally including President Obama are not all that popular.

We'll find out.

My guess is that Republicans will spend 80 percent of their time talking about the economy and 20 percent talking about health care in the final five weeks of the campaign.

Spending and deficits are major problems for Democrats -- particularly among independent voters -- so I would think Republicans will do everything they can to stay focused on that on the campaign trail.

Little effect either on the rallies or on the election.

Colbert is a performer and that's what he did. That anyone thought he would do anything else is amazing to me.

Yeah, remember that he lost the Republican primary and was running on the Conservative line only.

So, he wasn't going to be winning the election. Still, a rapid rise and fall for the Long Island Congressman.

Obviously, that's the counter argument. The issue is where voters come down on the issue. Only 36 days now!