The gap between the way the media characterizes the presidential race and what is actually happening is growing larger by the day. In particular, we see a systematic emphasis on news items that favor the president and a discounting of evidence that disfavor him.

The mainstream media’s recent coverage of the Democratic National Convention was fawning – little or no mention was made of the extremist abortion plank or the decisive defeat on the floor of the motion to reinstate a reference to God in the platform (nevertheless gaveled through by the party establishment) and an acknowledgment that Jerusalem is the capital of Israel (pro-Israel language that had been included in previous party platforms). So, the Democrats won their convention week with a bullet. Next, even though Obama’s bounce was modest by historical standards, and he still could not pull above 50 percent nationwide or in the key swing states, the mainstream media dutifully declared not only that Obama was winning, but that the Romney campaign was in utter disarray.

And what did the media overlook last week?

-Gas prices increased on average by $0.04, despite the end of the summer driving season. With Brent crude prices remaining elevated, gas prices are probably not going to come down any time soon.

-The Consumer Price Index increased by 0.6 percent month-over-month. This is an extremely large jump, built mostly around increased energy prices.

-Retail sales, excluding gas and cars, were flat.

-Manufacturing production fell by more than 1 percent last month alone, and capacity utilization dropped by 1 point.

-The jobs report from August was an absolute misery.

More.