If only a fraction of the almost 15m first-time voters of 2008 (the vast majority of them Democrats) can be persuaded to turn out again, party organisers say, it could tip lots of races in their favour.

ECONOMIST: And not about to rush to the polls in November, either

Bresnan prised out Watson with a good ball that just seamed away a fraction and was edged to Andrew Strauss at first slip before the first tranche of rain arrived before tea.

BBC: Ashes: England on top as rain hits Sydney Test match

The first and easy cut is simply Federal Interest Outlays as a Fraction of GDP divided by the GDP deflator.

FORBES: How Heavy Is the Federal Debt