The following post is a slightly edited version of a message I just posted on DemsAbroad.

Today’s Gallup tracking poll has Obama up by 5 points (47% vs. McCain at 42%). That’s following a week of attack ads from the bad guys, noisemaking by the pundits, and fretting on the part of those among us who fear that Obama isn’t hitting back hard enough.

Also fun to think about: According to Mark Nickolas, writing on Huffington Post analysis of popular vote versus electoral college figures in previous elections suggest a landslide in the making.

Another source (wish I could still find that damned URL) suggests that when poll results are analyzed using standard statistical smoothing techniques, the only real story out there is that Obama has maintained a consistent 4-5% lead ever since becoming the presumptive nominee.

None of these are reasons to stop working, giving, keeping our shoulders to the wheel.Bad things could still happen. That said, the advice on the first page of the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy still holds:

“Don’t Panic.”

Instead, do it the Wellstone way, “Mobilize, energize, organize.”
It’s like the man says, “Yes, we can.”