The Democrats are doing in this election what they do in every election. The mainstream media is used relentlessly in the weeks leading up to an election to "predict" a disastrous downfall for the Republicans. The idea is to use the media to brainwash conservatives into thinking that it is a waste of time to go out and vote. And with an incumbent Republican President sitting in the White House there's always going to be plenty of stuff for them to throw mud at. This would be the case even if 9/11 had never happened, if Iraq never happened, and if Mark Foley were a paragon of virtue. I'm amazed that more R's haven't figured this out. If they do pull off a victory, even a slim one, the sleeze party will accuse them of voter fraud.
I think that is definitely happening. I also think that is more diabolical than that. It sets up a rationale for recounts after the election is over. If you can't get enough votes during the actual election, then steal them in a judicial process. I read on DU during the last election that a way groups operate (like Jimmy Carter's) which verify honest elections in other countries is by contrasting the results with pre-election polling. A large contrast triggers a red flag. This was one of the cries during the 2004 presidential election. It could be in play here as well.