Ezra Klein:

There are two sure signs a campaign is in trouble. The first is that it begins changing its strategy rapidly and erratically. The second is that it begins attacking its strategists fiercely and anonymously.

The Romney campaign is in trouble.

(I’m including that part simply because it’s a charming intro; the real meat is below.)

Romney is behind and has been there for quite some time. According to the Real Clear Politics average of head-to-head polls, Romney hasn’t led the race since October 2011. The closest he came to a lead in the polls this year was during the Republican National Convention, when he managed to … tie Obama.

Why people insist on talking about this election as if it’s competitive I don’t know. It might become competitive, but the convention didn’t do it, and the Paul Ryan pick - as Klein notes, essentially a strategic flip-flop in itself - didn’t do it. Now all that’s left, notwithstanding some unforeseen disaster, is the debates.

Hands up anyone who thinks Romney is going to trounce Obama in the debates?

That’s what I thought.