Voters at a rally at 8 a.m. don't know Gore will keep going at 8 p.m..

Sept. 11 made Americans aware of our national security vulnerability, and there is a good chance that Katrina will raise the public's consciousness about the weakness of our social safety net, ... I don't think there is going to be a call for big new government programs, but there is going to be a refocus from the public on dealing with poverty and the people left behind.

[In May 2003, many Muslims] saw a worldwide threat to Islam and [bin Laden] represented opposition to the West and the United States, ... Tempers have since cooled.

This important question of the trade-off of civil liberties and protection is one the public takes very seriously. The public has been reminded recently of the ongoing threat of terrorism and what we should or should not have to sacrifice for our safety.

Americans are depressed, angry and very worried about the economic consequences of the disaster.

We still live in a time where people feel threatened, and the Democrats have been at a disadvantage on this issue, and for them to make progress they have to address it.