A mysterious bulge in US President George Bush's jacket during his first debate with Democratic rival Senator John Kerry has prompted speculation - laughed off by the White House - that the President was wearing a radio device so he could be prompted by a political aide.
The notion that Mr Bush was getting his answers through a microscopic earpiece circulated feverishly on the internet before it was taken up by the New York Times and Washington Post on Saturday.
The Bush campaign dismissed the mystery bulge as just a wrinkle.
Pictures from the September 30th debate show a small rectangular protrusion between the President's shoulders.
Some website "bloggers" said the right side of his suit was hanging strangely and that he reached into his jacket there once or twice as if to adjust something. A dedicated website, www.isbushwired.com, has been created to act as a clearinghouse for discussion by bloggers. It says Mr Bush's speech rhythms suggest that he was being prompted, "as do some of his word choices and interjections, and his constantly shifting eye movements while speaking".
But Bush campaign spokesman Mr Scott Stanzel said: "Some people have been spending too many hours looking at left-wing conspiracy websites.
"Did you hear the one about Elvis moderating the third debate?"