>> and then it fades, back to where they started. >> this race is basically where it started a year ago or two years ago. >> i'm talking about is it back to where it was with obama ahead? >> i think it is, yeah. >> i think it's back where the two of them are more even than one being ahead of the other. i see an arc between that first debate and the last debate in that obama really hurt himself in that first debate, and it's still -- there's still residual effect from that and i think you're seeing that in the numbers. i agree with you, chris, and i agree with nate that the tide has slowed a little bit for romney at this point, that energy, that momentum has slowed, and it goes to what chuck todd said a few days ago whether or not the map and the momentum, obama's map, romney's momentum, come to a point. >> let's look at the president on leno. apparently a very good hit on leno. he made a humorous appeal to ohio voters talking about politics and entertainment mixing. let's watch. >> i know last year michelle