Meaning, an intentionally engineered event that favors the ruling party.  Everyone seems to take it for granted that there will be one, which leads me to conclude there will not.  Since the conventional wisdom and majority always seem to be wrong.

All this nonsense started something like 6 years after the hostages in Iran were released, through revelations stemming from the Iran/Contra scandal. In case people forgot, that was on Carter's watch, so a favorable resolution to that crisis would have benefitted whom?  Carter!  Yet it went down in history as Reagan's dirty trick.

My point is, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN OCTOBER SURPRISE.

Bush with a straw up his nose.

Kerry burning or pissing on a flag (in partial uniform optional).

In a race this close, with so much at stake, in the middle of 2 wars with a 3rd on the way, during the dirtiest campaign that I can remember (I'm only 28), I would definately say that there is going to be some kind of surprise that will put President Bush over the top! Some people say it will be Osama Bin Laden get captured, but I think there is also a possibility that we could stumble across some WMD's in Iraq.

Quoted: My point is, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS AN OCTOBER SURPRISE.

That wouldn't surprise me

How 'bout a video of Kerry pissing in Edward's mouth?