The same GOP operative is hearing that the White House has taken over their candidate’s (it’s safer to go without the name!) field operation. “They feel like they have stopped the bleeding and they have a shot. Not that they are going to win but, less optimistically, that they still have a shot.”

He adds that “they are saying their numbers have them up — but that is W. modeling that does not reflect this election and they know it. They are afraid a big loss would produce a diaspora in Congress. That’s why president had no choice but to go.”