Rats! The Gnomon wanted to make its presidential election prediction while the polls still showed a tie between Mr. Bush and Mr. Kerry. It'd be more impressive that way when we turned out to be right. Not that we're taking back our oath against polls, which we swore off yesterday; we're not. But they're always there anyway, buzzing in the background like irritated houseflys.

Now, Reuters/Zogby of all people, always slanted in a liberal democrat direction and never terribly friendly to Mr. Bush, tells us he's opened up a lead as we head toward the election. Even with Mr. Kerry's three debatable debate-wins, democrats are apparently nervous enough to be planning ways to undermine the election process, just in case.

"If no signs of [republican] intimidation techniques have emerged yet," their campaign manual counsels party operatives, "launch a pre-emptive strike."

If it doesn't feel like you lost, you must've won -- whatever the votes say.