As we look at the polls, and parse the numbers, and stare deep into them, and try to project to Election Day, it is good to step back and remember a few things…

Fifteen percent of the respondents in this recent Time poll could not identify the current Vice President. (What’s frightening is that Cheney is the most controversial vice president in recent memory, and has been in office now seven and a half years or so.)

Twenty-two percent of respondents could not correctly name which state Barack Obama represents. (I wonder how many said Hawaii?)

Only 66 percent could identify the current Speaker of the House as Nancy Pelosi.

Only 21 percent could identify the current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court as John Roberts.

I’m less surprised that 36 percent could identify Henry Paulson as Secretary of the Treasury; that’s usually not as high-profile a job as it is at this moment.