It is is bad taste to mention the likely effect of another large terrorist attack before the election, but I will do so. I suspect there are people in the present administration who are wicked enough to connive at or fake such a thing -- there are in any government -- but I doubt if they have the power to do so. More useful to the Republicans, in any case, would be a foiled attempt, especially if it were hinted and/or leaked that illegal means had been used to foil it. That could be more easily faked, or of course it might actually happen. I am inclined to expect it. It will be terribly demoralizing to the opposition, including me.