In Florida, Ohio and (new swing state!) Wisconsin, Medicare a top issue [Quinnipiac/NYT/CBS, 8/23]: “Most voters have a positive view of the current Medicare system: In each state, three in four think Medicare benefits are worth the cost of the program to taxpayers. Still, most voters in Ohio, Florida and Wisconsin would support some reductions to Medicare in order to reduce the federal budget deficit. Only about one in 10, however, would support major reductions to the system for the same purpose.”

Likely voters say those whose annual income is higher than $250,000 should pay more in taxes [LA Times/USC Annenberg, 8/23]: Forty-three percent believe the Bush tax cuts should expire at the end of this year. Thirty-seven percent say all tax levels should remain the same.

Who’s most negative in the campaign? The news media is up there [Pew, 8/23]: “The No. 1 narrative about President Obama in the media is that his economic policies have failed. Fully 36% of the statements about his character and record make that case-more than twice the number (16%) that suggests he has helped the economy. On the other side, the No. 1 narrative abut Romney is that he is a “vulture” capitalist who doesn’t care about workers, which accounted for 14% of the statements about his character, followed closely by the idea that he is a wealth elitist (13%).”

Four days after “legitimate rape” comment, Todd Akin down by ten [Rasmussen, 8/23]: Sen. Claire McCaskill polling at 48 percent. Akin, 38 percent.

The horse race [Gallup daily tracking, 8/23]: Both Romney and Obama tied at 46 percent.