Of course, in addition to the offices of GOP Sens. Mike DeWine and George V. Voinovich of Ohio, those of every other lawmaker also are remaining open for business.

Dayton gained national notoriety last week when he said that classified intelligence briefings given to him and other senators contained information so alarming that he deemed it unsafe for his staff to stay in his Russell Senate Office Building between now and Nov. 2, Election Day.

Dayton said that because he was back in Minnesota, on the congressional pre-election break, he did not want to leave his staff and visiting constituents vulnerable on their own.

But other sources have said that what frightened Dayton was a worst-case scenario terrorist attack that is thought to be very unlikely.

Authorities have made it clear the threat of terrorism is thought to be higher before the election, but the Senate’s sergeant-at-arms office sent out a memo last week saying there are “no known specific threats directed at the United States Capitol or members of Congress.”

Amanda Flaig, DeWine’s press secretary, said her boss was at the same briefings as Dayton and didn’t come away as alarmed.

“Obviously it was only Sen. Dayton who made that decision,” Flaig said.