Would the administration postpone - or cancel elections - were there to be heavens forbid another terrorist attack? Department of Homeland Security officials are looking into it, Reuters reports.

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Reuters) - U.S. counterterrorism officials are looking at an emergency proposal on the legal steps needed to postpone the November presidential election in case of an attack by al Qaeda, Newsweek reported on Sunday.

Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge warned last week that Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network may attack within the United States to try to disrupt the election.

The magazine cited unnamed sources who told it that the Department of Homeland Security asked the Justice Department last week to review what legal steps would be needed to delay the election if an attack occurred on the day before or the day of the election...

Homeland Security Department spokesman Brian Rochrkasse told the magazine the agency is reviewing the matter "to determine what steps need to be taken to secure the election."

Creepy. Or creeping coup? It would seem unthinkable, except given how disturbingly the last US presidential elections were decided.

[thx to J for the clip]

Backdated Update: Kriston Capps has already thought about this.

Posted by Laura at July 11, 2004 12:03 PM