Karl Rove said it in January, "If the economy [Enron, Harken, Halliburton, etc.] is the issue in November, we lose. If the issue is 'national security', we win."
Another Republimonkey (not sure who at the moment) said in August that you "don't release new products in August" implying this Iraq crisis was better suited to late September/early October.
Let's all remember: IT IS ABOUT THE OFF YEAR CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS AND THE MORE WE TALK ABOUT IT, THE MORE WE PLAY TO THEIR GAME PLAN.