Pre-election blog roundup

Thanks to In These Times intern Anna Schneider for compiling highlights from the left and right blogospheres: Talking Points Memo: A group called the Florida Leadership Council sent a flyer around the state with a fake AP story dated 2007 saying that President Kerry warned children and parents of the need to wear their mandatory radiation and chemical gear since terrorists attacked South Florida. Kerry is winning among voters in Florida and Iowa who cast early ballots: No, wait--the right-wing PoliPundit says Bush is winning in Florida, as well as Iowa, and Ohio and he is predicted to win both popular and electoral votes. Atrios: Proof that Bush is not making the world a safer place: fatality and casualty rates in Iraq have gone up since the U.S. turned over sovereignty of Iraq on June 28, gone up since Hussein's capture. A handful of Republican Floridians dressed up Democrats from San Francisco who support anything gay, flying rainbow flags high. The "Democrats" held up signs supporting gay issues trying to sway a crowd of church-going democrats at an early polling place. Partisan poll-watchers will not be allowed in Ohio after a recent court decision. Slate blogs: Bush Administration soft on terror: Why didn't Bush kill jihadist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi when it had the chance? If the election were held today, Bush would win. Factcheck.org Run-down of the lies both candidates have told about each other The Weekly Standard: Be skeptical of the recent reports that casualties in Iraq have gone up, the reports may be inaccurate. The economy grew 3.7% in the third quarter and unemployment is currently at a low at 5.4% Reason Cheney predicts the GOP will win Hawaii for the third time in the state's history. The percentage of Americans who think it was a mistake to invade Iraq has dropped. Andrew Sullivan: Split your ticket when you vote: either candidate will be a better president with a hostile congress. Human Events Online Fake born-again Christians tried to unsuccessfully to infiltrate the RNC posing as a group from Texas who got a message from god to support Bush by volunteering at the Convention. Republicans knew they were fake when their attempts to infiltrate didn't work and they retreated to a nearby bar. Kerry's discharge from the navy may not have been honorable. Keep illegal aliens out of the polling place and make picture identification at polls mandatory to protect our voting rights. Ann Coulter says Kerry and the democrats are no good for black voters. The Patriot Act took a terrorist of the streets of New York. and, last but not least… MSN's Ancestry.com: We know Kerry and Bush are distant relatives, but who knew the famous Transylvanian Count (better known as Dracula) is also in their bloodline?