*Here's some motivation to work for Obama's reelection

The New Yorker's Amy Davidson suggests that we better get used to it.

Is this effective? The most powerful part of the ad may be the economic statistics, including the new poverty numbers from last week, which don't need portentous music to sound grim. The "President Zero" line was introduced by the Republican National Committee, a few weeks ago. There's another Republican debate Thursday night--another opportunity for the candidates to engage in vaccine denialism and cheer the prospective execution, tonight in Georgia, of a man whose guilt has been called into doubt, but also another chance for the G.O.P. to test various angles from which to attack in the general election. Perry's extremism may ultimately cause his party to turn away from him, but his ad gives an idea of the direction any Republican is likely to take: the dominant sentiment, for all the Americana, is not one of nostalgia, but of fear.

*Nate Silver suggests that Perry is not making a great first impression:

Surveys released between the announcement of his campaign and the first debate had Mr. Perry trailing Mr. Obama 43 percent to 46 percent on average, with a couple of the polls actually giving him a slight lead. Mr. Perry has trailed Mr. Obama by an average of 42 percent to 49 percent in surveys released since the debate, however. Polls of horse-race match-ups can often underestimate the standing of candidates with poor or middling name recognition -- one of a number of reasons that the White House shouldn't feel terribly excited about these numbers. Still, that Mr. Perry's numbers have gotten worse as he has become better known -- and as Mr. Obama's approval ratings have been low and steady at best -- is a poor sign for his campaign.