Political analysts said the efforts by the usually media-savvy Trump

 tabloid charges being shopped by Gloria Allred, one of President Obama's most prominent supporters, are absolutely false," Romney'slawyer Robert Jones said Thursday.

Political analysts said the efforts by the usually media-savvy Trump and Allred were too lame to have any real impact on the presidential race. An October surprise, if it's going to shake voters in the final days of a campaign, has to be far more dramatic and tied directly to issues about which voters are concerned.

"For this election, we're talking about either a really good or really bad job report number for Obama, a stock market crash or another embassy attack," Boettcher said. "Generally, we think of those things as October surprises."

Zito was left off the roster for the postseason when the Giants

As Pagan rounded first, he raised his arm in a fist pump. When Gregor Blanco hit a two-run shot to right-center field an inning later to break a 1-1 tie, he raised his fist, too, mirroring Pagan.

"We understand the situation we're in," Pagan said. "It's win or go home."

Even with that display of offense, the Giantshad to go to their bullpen early and often because of starter Barry Zito's struggles. In his first playoff start since 2006 with Oakland, Zito lasted just two and two-thirds innings. He allowed two runs and four hits and also walked four.

Zito was left off the roster for the postseason when the Giants won the World Series in 2010, but on Wednesday he was tabbed over Lincecum, the two-time Cy Young winner, in large part because the Giants had been unbeaten in Zito's last 11 starts. Zito responded by nearly imploding in the first. He walked three, with the third walk, to Todd Frazier, forcing in a run. Zito escaped further damage by striking out Dioner Navarro on a looping curveball, but was soon in trouble again.