It’s been a circus on Capitol Hill the past several days — and with the actual circus in town, it‘s fitting that some Congressional staffers would step into the ring themselves.

[IMGCAP(1)]Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus and the Senate Press Secretaries Association are teaming up to host a Capitol Hill tug-of-war at 6 p.m. today in Stanton Park. HOH hears Hill staffers — 10 Republicans, 10 Democrats — will wage war over a red and blue rope, each side aiming to pull the other across party lines and into the center ring. Ringling Bros. clowns will act as the Senate parliamentarian, judging what could be a very physical competition.

“It’ll be a nice diversion from some of the more intense policy work that’s been going on,” says Steve Wymer, president of the SPSA, adding that the timing is perfect “since this health care debate has been a bit of a circus.”

“It’ll be interesting because maybe there will be some healthy frustrations worked out over the tug-of-war rope,” he says.

Submit your hot tips, juicy gossip or comments here.
Can’t get enough HOH? Get a midday dose of fun and gossip with HOH’s One-Minute Recess, delivered to your inbox daily. Sign up here — because everyone deserves more recess.