A few more thoughts on what this all might mean.

To a significant degree we're in zero sum game mode at this late stage of the campaign. The dynamic this week has been in Kerry's favor consistently. So anything that upsets that dynamic helps Bush.

I know the consensus among pundits is that this is a godsend for Bush and that it will rekindle and put people in the mind of the period of national unity after 9/11. I'm certainly not sure but I strongly suspect that's not true.

Were bin Laden to turn the election for Bush, it would be fitting since he and Bush have fed off each others' power for more than three years.

But I don't think the public's mind right now will react to bin Laden's reemergence in way people did in 2001, 2002 or even through much of 2003. Or in the way many in the press expect.

A lot has changed.

We'll know soon enough.