Of course, given that Griffin is already a four-time loser, it seems that he either lacks a really good escape plan or the fates do not smile kindly upon him.
Correspondents said it was possible Mrs Kumaratunga had benefited from a sympathy vote following her narrow escape - but that the attack may equally have turned Sinhalese voters away from the opposition's plan to open talks with the rebels.
There is, however, a little-known--if inconvenient--escape hatch: Under IRS rules, you can move your investment from one state's plan to another state's plan without penalty, so long as you change the account beneficiary as you do so.