Security and Economy Ascendant

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Byline: Donald Lambro, THE WASHINGTON TIMES

President Bush and his party have made it clear the final weeks of the elections will be about two issues: national security and the economic recovery.

The war in Iraq, and our efforts to help the Iraqis' fledgling democracy overcome its terrorist insurgency, is the administration's biggest political challenge right now. Still, polls show a 51 percent majority believes Iraq is a key battle in the war on terrorism. And most Americans 50 percent to 42 percent say the country is safer today than it was before September 11, 2001.

Meanwhile, a growing economy is fast emerging as a big political plus for Mr. Bush and his party that they intend to promote for all it's worth.

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