Yet more evidence that Campaign 2008 has gotten rough: Gwen Ifill—notable for the dual distinction of being both the moderator of Thursday’s vice presidential debate and a Washington insider who is respected by pretty much everyone—has broken her ankle. Seems she took a spill at home, after tripping and falling down stairs. Per TVNewser, which broke the story based on info from NewsHour sources: “We’re told Ifill had been walking up a staircase, carrying research related to her moderating duties at Thursday’s Vice Presidential debate in St. Louis, when she took a wrong step.”

If you’re as Ifill-philic as we are, fear not: Injury notwithstanding, she’s still planning on traveling to St. Louis to moderate Thursday night’s debate-a-palooza.

Update: Ifill, CJR has learned, has just received a “get well” gift from the McCain campaign: a tub of Crisco and a magazine-cutout-lettered note reading, “Watch your step on Thursday. Or we’ll get back to ya.” (Just kidding.)