To the Point

And They Round the Final Turn...

Despite $60 million spent on TV commercials this week in swing states alone, the race between George Bush and John Kerry is still too close to call. Two federal courts say Republicans may not send challengers into Ohio's polling places, but those rulings still might be appealed. Meantime, armies of lawyers for both sides are lined up in swing states, ready to go to the Supreme Court, where Chief Justice Rehnquist is sidelined with thyroid cancer, leaving a court that could divide 4 to 4. And while nobody thinks there's any chance Republicans will lose their majority in the Congress, the Senate just might be up for grabs. We speak with pollsters and journalists to update the final days of a campaign still too close to call, and see if Democrats have a chance to re-take the Senate. Making News: Chief Justice Rehnquist Doesn't Show up for Work Chief Justice William Rehnquist says he was "too optimistic" last week when he said he'd be back on the bench today. Instead, heis still at home, receiving outpatient radiation and chemotherapy for thyroid cancer and recovering from a tracheotomy performed to help his breathing. David Savage, who covers the Supreme Court for the Los Angeles Times, weighs the judicial and political impact of Rehnquist's absence on the court. Reporter's Notebook: Bin Laden's Election Eve Message In his televised message Friday, Osama bin Laden aimed his comments at American voters, denouncing both George Bush and John Kerry. Since then, he's been all but ignored by both candidates. We hear how his message played in the Middle East and around the world from Magnus Ranstorp of the Centre for the Study of Political Violence at St. Andrews University in Scotland and former New York Times foreign correspondent Youssef Ibrahim.