Two alternatives

After palpably slanting its news coverage against Pres. Bush for months, today the Chicago Tribune (registration required) "strongly" endorsed his reelection. Two alternatives:

First, that the Tribune suddenly and inexplicably changed its basic worldview; or

Second, that the Tribune's braintrust concluded that Bush will win the election, and by endorsing him hopes to insulate the paper against questions about its distorted coverage of the campaign.