Indiscriminate suicide bombing of everyday America would have an effect, but al Quaeda doesn't have a limitless supply of suicide bombers here. I read several articles that stated the 9/11 attacks were very unique because the suicide bombers were autonomous and none of the 18 backed out--in Israel, the bombers are usually young, impressionable people who are heavily indoctrinated and given little chance to change their minds before going through with it. There just aren't many people like the 9/11 hijackers.
Finding people willing to kill themselves, getting them here, and then getting them to go through with it is not easy, and it has gotten harder since 9/11. If I were a senior planner, I would want to marshal these precious assets for a strike that would have maximum effect. Really I can't think of anything that would cause more panic and unease than significantly disrupting the presidential election. That hasn't happened in over 200 years of our history. And you know that within hours of it happening there would be ridiculous conspiracy theories here on OT and elsewhere about how Bush did it so he could stay in power. That's why I hope our law enforcement has taken this possibility into account and prepared accordingly.
