The disconnect between the Chicago Tribune's Wednesday front-page headline and actual reality is really quite something.

The front page of the hard copy edition of the Chicago Tribune blares:

Record numbers vote early in the Chicago area: 'This is just incredible'

544,000

Under the front-page headline is a quote from Cook County Clerk David Orr (D): "This is the most intense presidential race I've ever seen."

Oh my God! It's insane! All ballots must go! Can you feel the tingle running up your leg?

The story continues on to page 23 of the Trib, where in the eighth paragraph of the story we learn that the "This is just incredible" quote belongs to executive director of Chicago's election board Lance Gough, a 21-year veteran of his position, who is also quoted as saying, "The numbers are off the charts."

However, we learn in the following paragraph that early voting started just one federal election cycle ago, in 2006.

And then, paragraph 10 of the story: (emphasis added)

The major increase in early voting isn't completely a surprise—this is the first early voting for a presidential general election, and the Democratic nominee is Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

Apparently, the headline writer for the Trib's front page is different than the person who writes them for the paper's Web edition, where the link there reads: Long wait to vote early.

Here is the link to the story.

Gosh, I wonder why the Trib's hard copy headline reads the way it does? It's simply a mystery...