In such a high-octane moment, this story probably won't get much attention. But maybe spare it a minute or 90 seconds. Labor Department staffers were asked to prepare a memo analyzing current economic and political factors and whether they augured a victory on Tuesday for President Bush.

"Nearly every single model has him winning," exult the authors of the memo at one point, according to the Associated Press.

It gives you a sense of the culture of the place under the current crew.