Hotline After Dark -- Bush's "Summer War On Terror Tour"?

It may be August but politics is never on vacation:

CNN's Henry: "Day two of President Bush's summer war on terror tour, five hours at the secretive National Counterterrorism Center -- message: It's a dangerous world this August, and I'm not on vacation" ("AC 360," 8/15).

MSNBC's Shuster: "For the second straight day since returning from vacation, President Bush tried to boost his political standing by keeping the focus on homeland security" ("Hardball," 8/15).

CNN's Bash: "Even before the latest terror plots stirred this round of political jockeying, Democrats were trying a new tactic for 2006. Don't run from Republicans on national security. Take them on. Top Democrats say the key to a winning strategy on national security this year is not just retaliating against GOP attacks. They insist 2006 is fundamentally different from 2002 and 2004, because opposition to the Iraq war is now at an all-time high. Trust in the president has slipped, and Democrats insist Republicans will take the blame" ("AC 360," 8/15).

SUMMER'S HOT SENATE RACES

Sen. George Allen's "macaca" comments got a lot of coverage:

CNN's Koppel, on Allen's statement to CNN: "In Allen's written statement, he also said his remarks about a welcome to America and the real world of Virginia were aimed at his opponent, who Allen said had never been to that part of Virginia. Before Allen ran for governor in 1993, he was criticized by African-Americans for displaying a confederate flag. And Webb's campaign suggested this latest incident could be part of a pattern" ("Lou Dobbs Tonight," 8/15).

MSNBC's Shuster: "Macaca is a term that can refer to monkeys. Allen says he was making reference to the young man's mohawk haircut. In any case, Allen has now apologized. And with that apology, the Allen campaign is hoping the Virginia Senate race will soon return to a debate over national security. That debate over how to make America safer is now erupting in almost every race as the battle for Congress intensifies" ("Hardball," 8/15).

Chicago Tribune's Zeleny: "Senator Allen, he clearly was focusing on the audience before him. Perhaps what he was forgetting was the broader audience, including these voters in Northern Virginia, where immigration is huge" ("Hardball," MSNBC, 8/15).

CT SEN candidate Alan Schlesinger (R) was on "Hardball."

Asked if he's been banned from casinos: "To be honest with you, some casinos have said, yes, we love your play. Some casinos have said, no, we don't like your play."

MSNBC's Matthews: "So they banned you?"

Schlesinger: "No."

Matthews: "What do they mean they don't like your play?"

Schlesinger: "They say they prefer that I don't play because of my skill level."

Matthews: "Do they tell you to leave?"

Schlesinger: "Oh, a couple of times in casinos they've asked me to leave."

Asked about past gambling debts: "I think it was $10,000."

Asked if he has an addiction: "No, I do not. I think I've played once this year." More: "I never had a problem. I just enjoy it recreationally."

Asked about GOP support: "I'm not going to allow Washington and the media to hijack this race and turn it into a national referendum on the Democratic future, the Democrat Party's future."

NV SEN candidate Jack Carter (D) was also on "Hardball."

Carter: "Contrary to what a lot of your other people have been saying, I think that this election is about bringing America together and I think that the partisan politics is something that has been working against us for a long time."

More: "If I had been in there, I probably would not have voted to go into Iraq" (MSNBC, 8/15).

And FNC's Cameron profiled the RI SEN race: "Chafee's situation is unique in America. Every other vulnerable Republican is a conservative Bush backer. And while Chafee's out of step with that, it works well here in Democratic leaning Rhode Island. Yet, the anti-incumbent mood may still see him ousted anyway" ("Special Report," 8/15). [EMILY GOODIN]