[Velshi:] Time now for a "CNN Equals Politics" update, senior congressional correspondent Dana Bash in Pittsburgh watching the very latest developments. You're following I mean, look, Pennsylvania's a battleground on a number of fronts. What are you following there?
[Dana Bash, Cnn Correspondent:] That's right, it is a huge battleground state. There's a governor's race, a Senate race, and several House races. One thing I wanted to point out is part of our brand-new CNN Opinion Research poll out today, Ali, and it is this. Check this out. The choice for Congress among voters who don't like either party, and there are a lot of them out there those people are going to vote right now Republican 63 percent and Democrat 25 percent. That is a pretty big change just from April, 43 percent for Republican and 39 percent for Democrat. The reason I wanted to point that out, Ali, is because we have been in the eastern part of this state of Pennsylvania in the 8th congressional district, and we spoke with a voter there who is really exemplifies, illustrates those numbers. His name is George Repitsky. He has a flooring company. He has had to lay off workers, including his own son. Listen to what he says about his political mood.
[George Repitsky, Republican Voter:] I'm a Republican, a registered Republican. I voted for President Obama or Democrat this time. I will not do it again. I need a change. He sounded good. All the Democrats did. They don't sound good anymore because they're not doing the job they promised they would do.
[Bash:] And Ali, he is a voter in the district of Patrick Murphy. He is an incumbent Democrat who just won a seat four years ago. He ran because the environment was very much anti-war, and he's an Iraq war veteran. But this time, there's a rematch with the Republican congressman that he beat. And of course, as you just heard, as you know, you know probably more than anybody, the issue certainly is not the war, it is the economy. And we heard that loud and clear from voters there, and both the candidates know that, as well.
[Velshi:] So in the conversation that you were having with that gentleman, and he was saying, I voted for them, they sounded good, but they haven't done the job they were supposed to do I'm assuming that means, dot, dot, dot, fix the economy?
[Bash:] Oh, fix the economy big-time. And I actually said to him, Well, you know, isn't there something to be said for the fact that the economy was in pretty bad shape before the Democrats took over? And he just takes a little time and he said, No. No. In his words, the president, quote, "schmoozed" him. Democrats really made them feel that they could do something pretty fast to help him where it really matters, in his pocket and in his business, and he said it just hasn't been done fast enough and that is why he said he doesn't care who's on the ballot...
[Velshi:] Right.
[Bash:] ... running against the Democratic congressman, Patrick Murphy. He said he would vote against him and will vote against him as a protest vote. And that is bearing out big-time when you talk to both Patrick Murphy and his Republican opponent, Mike Fitzpatrick. They know that people are hurt and they are certainly trying to one-up each other to try to get to voters and make clear that they're the ones who feel their pain.
[Velshi:] All right, Dana, thanks very much for that. Dana Bash in Pittsburgh with the "CNN Election Express." We're going to be covering these battles across the country for the next two months as we head into mid-term elections. Hey, listen, remember this scene? Take a look at this.
[Unidentified Male:] Power laces, all right!
[Velshi:] That was a clip from "Back to the Future 2" in which Michael J. Fox puts on a pair of Nike tennis shoes from the year 2015. Now, shoes like that might be leaping off the screen and into your closet. In today's "Big I," Nike has applied for a patent for an automatic shoe lacing system. It uses a set of straps that can be automatically opened or loosened opened and closed to loosen or tighten the upper part of the shoe. There's also an automatic ankle- cinching system to adjust the lower part of the shoe, and the motor for the system is hidden away in the sole. It includes a driveshaft and a belt system. We did reach out to Nike for a statement on these shoes. We have yet to receive it. But this isn't the first time that it's been done. Check out this Web site for Power Laces. This company is trying to raise money to get the project off the ground. Blake Bevan of Power Laces released this statement in response to Nike's patent. Quote, "I have my doubts that Nike will be releasing any close to Power Laces in the near future. And I believe my project can fill that niche," end quote. The patent document, by the way, is about 60 pages long, full of drawings and details that every geek will love. For a link to it, just head to my blog, CNN.comali. We've also linked to the Power Laces project Web site, as well. All right, from Hawaii to the Hudson River, sort of a nautical theme in today's "Odds and Ends." See why both of these places are making news, coming up next.