"Whatever the explanation, these polls are neither as dismaying (to Democrats) nor as encouraging (to Republicans) as they appear. In fact, given the margin of error in this week's surveys — it hovers between 3 percent and 3.5 percent — the only safe conclusion is that the race is a dead heat. At least until the next round of polls is released." That's the conclusion of Ryan Lizza's editorial today in the NY Times. (For those who think "Marge Innovera" really is the Car Talk statistician, I'll once again suggest Paul Waldman's "Polling Primer") But Joshua Marshall, also editorializing in the Times today, concludes: "Mr. Kerry is far more likely to win if he has a plan to show how he — and thus the American people — can succeed rather than simply showing how President Bush — and thus they — have failed."