Oy.

Gunmen shot and killed three candidates running in Iraq's Jan. 30 elections, officials said Tuesday, as a suicide bombing killed two people outside the offices of a leading Shiite political party.

With insurgents trying to ruin the election, officials announced that Iraq will seal its borders, extend a curfew and restrict movement to protect voters during the balloting. President Bush spoke Tuesday morning with Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi, the latest in a series of conversations between the two leaders on Iraq's efforts to ensure maximum participation in the election.

Two of the slain candidates belonged to Allawi's political coalition, the Iraqi National Accord, a member of the group said.

This is most likely not the most effective way to hold a truly Democratic election. I certainly hope and pray things start improving in Iraq, but with each such attack I'm becoming increasingly pessimistic.