From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Ben Kamisar FIRST READ: The political environment looks like 2014, and that's scary news for Democrats Nine months into Joe Biden's presidency, the political environment for Democrats – right now – looks more like 2014 than 2010.
And one year out before the 2022 midterms, that 2014 comparison should frighten every Democratic strategist this day after Halloween 2021.
Here's the NBC News/WSJ poll from Oct. 2010:
Here's the NBC/WSJ poll from Oct. 2014:
And here's the NBC News poll from Oct. 2021:
 Chris Kleponis/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Image If you want to see how this Tuesday's race for Virginia governor has become so close in a state Biden won by 10 points last year, here's what the Mark Warner (D) vs. Ed Gillespie (R) Senate race looked like for Democrats back in 2014:
Warner 49.2%, Gillespie 48.4%.
Folks, it's the political environment.
The good news for Democrats from our poll is that the 2022 midterms are still a year away, and it's possible to see how Biden's numbers recover.
The bad news for Democratss from our poll, however, is almost every set of numbers.
GOP makes gains on key issues That includes the issue handling between Democrats and Republicans. Especially when you compare where some of those numbers from 2020.
Here is each party's advantage when the NBC News poll asked respondents which party does a better job handling a particular issue:
Tweet of the Day: Yodel-ay-ee-oooo 
Data Download: The numbers you need to know today More than 5 million: The number of people who have died from Covid-19 worldwide.
749,274: The number of deaths in the United States from the virus so far, per the most recent data from NBC News. (That's 2,530 more since Friday morning.)
45,985,662: The number of confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the United States, per the most recent data from NBC News and health officials. (That's 151,675 more since Friday morning.)
422,070,099: The number of total vaccine doses administered in the U.S., per the CDC. (That's 4,274,562 more since yesterday morning.)
18,607,505: The number of booster vaccine doses administered in the U.S., per the CDC. (That's 3,190,165 more since yesterday morning.)
58 percent: The share of all Americans who are fully vaccinated, per the CDC.
69.6 percent: The share of all Americans 18-years and older who are fully vaccinated, per the CDC.
2,000: The number of New York City firefighters who have taken medical leave over the last week amid the department's new rules on vaccinations.
12 percent: The portion of the California recall election votes that were cast by voters between the ages of 18-29, down from 17 percent in November of 2020.
730: The number of municipalities the New York Times reports relies on fines or fees for at least 10 percent of its revenue, a finding part of its deep dive on traffic stops and why they sometimes turn violent.
Final day of campaigning in Virginia In the last day of campaigning before Tuesday's gubernatorial race in Virginia, Democrat Terry McAuliffe holds get-out-the-vote events in Roanoke, Virginia Beach, Richmond and Northern Virginia at 6:45 pm ET – where he will deliver remarks denouncing Donald Trump's tele-rally for GOP nominee Glenn Youngkin.
Youngkin, meanwhile, hits Roanoke, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Loudoun County at 9:00 pm ET.
And at publication time, Donald Trump just released this statement: "Remember this, Glenn Youngkin is a good man, a hardworking man, a successful man. He loves Virginia and wants to cut your taxes, save your children's education, and many other very good things. Terry McAuliffe is a low-life politician who lies, cheats, and steals. He was a terrible high-tax governor and would be, if elected, an even worse governor again. I say to all of our millions of followers, don't listen to the Fake News and misleading advertisements written largely by already-acknowledged perverts. Get out and vote for a man who will be a great governor, Glenn Youngkin!"
ICYMI: What ELSE is happening in the world? The Washington Post's massive, new investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol details that law enforcement brushed aside clear warnings about the potential for violence, that Trump repeatedly rebuffed requests from allies to try to call off the attack, and how deeply engrained support for Trump's unfounded elections claims in the GOP.
The Supreme Court hears arguments on Texas' restrictive abortion law at 10 a.m. ET Monday.
Politico reports that top Democrats are concerned about McAuliffe's black voter turnout.
Vice President Kamala Harris is set to pitch new action on climate change in a Monday event in New York.
More than a dozen states are rethinking how they count the incarcerated population in the redistricting process.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki has tested positive for Covid.
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The Defense Department and the nation are celebrating National American Indian Heritage Month, which is every November.
It's a time to reflect on the contributions and sacrifices Native Americans have made to the United States, not just in the military, but in all walks of life.
Charles Norman Shay, a Native American of the Penobscot tribe in Maine, was drafted into the Army in 1943 at the age of 19.
He trained as a combat medic and was assigned to the 16th Infantry Regiment of the 1st Infantry Division, aka the "Big Red One."
On June 6, 1944, during the Allied invasion of Normandy, France, Shay waded ashore on Omaha Beach. He was soon busy tending to the many wounded.
Later in the war, he applied his medical skills to the wounded at the Battles of Aachen, Hurtgen Forest, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Shay was later attached to a reconnaissance squadron near the village of Auel, close to the Sieg River in Germany. The squadron encountered about 20 German soldiers accompanied by a tank with an 88mm weapon and were forced to surrender.
Spotlight: Commemorating World War II
The squadron was then marched about 60 miles, moving only by night, to the POW Camp Stalag VI-G. The column of prisoners steadily grew along the way as more Americans were captured. Shay was interrogated and held there until April 12, 1945, when U.S. troops encircled the camp, trapping 350,000 enemy soldiers and liberating the camp.
Upon returning stateside after the war, Shay was unable to find work so he reenlisted in the Army. He was stationed in Vienna, Austria, serving as a medic with a military police unit.
On June 25, 1950, the Korean War started. Shay was assigned to the 7th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division as a combat medic.
His many awards include a Silver Star Medal and a Bronze Star Medal with two oak leaf clusters. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour.
Shay remained in the Army and retired as a master sergeant.
Today, Shay is an elder member of the Penobscot tribe of Maine. He currently lives in France, and he is active in a number of American veteran projects.
