Don't freak out about this new Gallup poll: Obama is still winning

Yes, Obama very nearly threw away the election with his weak performance in the first debate but he's still ahead regardless of this scary new Gallup poll and this is why.

1) We always knew the polls were going to tighten at some point.

2) Romney lost the lost debate. Badly, in my opinion, with 65 million people watching, and this will show up as people are polled post-debate. This Gallup poll doesn't reflect that.

3) Obama is still leading where it counts - the swing states and especially Ohio. If Rmoney closes the gap in Ohio then I'll worry.

4) Presidents are elected by the electoral college, not by national polls. Obama could very well lose the popular vote and still win the election.

5) Romney is losing every major city in America and every region of the country except the south. If Obama wins the west, north, and east then it really doesn't matter if Mittens wins the south 99-1 (electoral votes are what count).

6) Obama is winning big among women and minorities and the last debate increased that lead.

7) The economy is steadily improving and unemployment is dropping.

8) America isn't quite that stupid.