There are distinct signs here that the scandal might be dying down, and may require new revelations to provide the "legs" needed to have a strong effect on the election -- although some of the drop can be ascribed to a three-day holiday weekend.  On the other hand, it's also possible that the scandal has already infiltrated the opinions of the electorate sufficiently that it doesn't matter how long it goes on in the press, and that its effect can be magnified by canny utilization by Democrats in local races.

The good news is that the scandal seems to have strongly attached itself to Republicans in general (the purple line), while Hastert's specific association with it (the green line) may be fading.  (This may be because Hastert is not a primary figure in the public's mind.)

[Cross-posted from unfutz]