Is N.C. Democratic Congressman Bob Etheridge suddenly trailing in his re-election bid after he starred in an unwanted viral video hit, which featured him manhandling a self-described, albeit anonymous, “student”?

That's what a local N.C. television station reported, and the news was quickly embraced by the right-wing blogosphere. But to report that Etheridge is now “trailing” in N.C. based on the latest poll is just dopey.

Here's why, as I highlight the ginormous red flags [emphasis added]

The conservative leaning Civitas Institute released a flash poll Thursday that shows Etheridge slightly trailing Republican challenger Renee Ellmers.

Civitas said the poll of 400 registered voters in the 2nd Congressional District shows Ellmers leads Etheridge 39 percent to 38 percent. Twelve percent said they would vote for Libertarian Tom Rose and 11 percent said they were undecided.

And oh yeah, the margin of error for the flash poll commissioned by a conservative think tank that found just a one-point difference between the candidates? You guess it, five points.

Give credit to The Hill for accurately reporting on the poll:

Poll: Etheridge in dead heat after confrontation

That's not so difficult, is it?