The Scots Independence Vote

If you're keeping track, the vote on independence for Scotland happens in 2 1/2 weeks, on September 18. The Telegraph (U.K.) reports the race has tightened:

Support for Scottish independence has risen eight points in a month, according to a new poll. The No camp are now six points ahead of the Yes campaign, down from 14 points in mid-August and 22 points early last month, excluding undecided voters.

The latest YouGov poll found that, excluding ''don't knows'', 53% of those questioned planned to vote No, while 47% would back Yes. This compares to 57% for Yes and 43% for No in mid August and 61% for Yes and 39% for No at the beginning of last month.

Blair Jenkins, Chief Executive of Yes Scotland, said: ''This breakthrough poll shows that Yes has the big momentum.

If Scottish polls are anything like U.S. polls, I would have to agree with Jenkins Yes has the momentum. The No side, called Better Together, aren't doing much to persuade Scots to vote to stay in the U.K.

Scots never took a "for better or for worse" oath. In the days when the sun never set on the British Empire and half the globe was colored pink on most maps, Scots were happy enough to be along for the ride. Now, in dramatically reduced circumstances, not so much.