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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It took no time for the war on terrorism to become the hot political issue of the week, three months before voters head to the polls and choose which party is going to control Congress next year.

Democrats seized on Sen. Joe Lieberman's (D-Connecticut) primary loss on Tuesday, describing it as a referendum on President Bush and the Iraq war. Republicans countered that Democrats are soft on national security and bowed under pressure from the anti-war wing of the party to ex-communicate a loyal Democrat who has served three terms in the Senate. On Thursday, the rhetoric got red hot after British authorities announced that a major terrorist plot has been disrupted. Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nevada) used the opportunity to criticize the Bush administration for the Iraq war, which was echoed by Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) who described Iraq as "a dangerous distraction, and a profound drain on our financial and military resources."

Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman responded in kind.

"On a day when American authorities are working with our allies to stop a global terror plot, instead of focusing on political attacks, we should focus on the fact that we are at war and need every tool to win the war on terror," he said.

But Democrats see an Achilles heel for Republicans on Iraq. A CNN poll conducted earlier this month showed that 62 percent of Americans disapprove of how Bush is handling the Iraq war. But a Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll released this month shows that 50 percent of Americans approve of how Bush is handling the war on terrorism. So now Democrats are seeking to tie these two issues together so that when Americans think of the war on terror, images of Iraq flash across their eyes.

"Weeks ago, we made a decision to keep pushing on the Iraq issue," a Democratic strategist, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told the Grind. The push will continue through Election Day, the strategist added.

While Republicans acknowledge that public opinion on Iraq is low, they also believe that Americans do not trust Democrats with protecting them.

"When we talk about the war on terror and national security, it benefits our candidates, especially on the heels of the Lieberman Lamont race," said a Republican strategist, who too, asked not to be named.

Pass the pork chops and Twinkies

Why are the New York governor, former House speaker from Georgia and a Delaware senator taking time out of their summer schedules to attend the Iowa State Fair this weekend? It must be the pork chops on a stick and fried Twinkies -- two delicacies of the annual event. Or it might just be that New York Gov. George Pataki (R), former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia) and Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware) want to be president and are using this venue to engage one-on-one with the influential Iowa caucus voters. Iowa holds the first contest of the 2008 presidential election, and the way to win over caucus voters is practicing this type of retail politicking. A win in Iowa can give a candidate the momentum needed to capture their party's presidential nomination -- as we saw in 2004 with Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts). The race for 2008 is already in motion and this is just one of the many stops along the way.

Molly, we will miss ya

We are sad to announce that an important member of our CNN and Morning Grind family, Molly Levinson, is leaving us to become the political director for CBS News. As a key member of CNN's political team, Molly helped shape the network's on-air and on-line coverage for the 2004 election. Over the past few months, she has served as the acting political director, helping the network prepare for the looming midterms and, yes, the 2008 presidential contest. Our loss is CBS's gain. From all of us at CNN, Molly, we wish you well.

Grind Trivia: Thinking Feller?

(The response has been overwhelming for this Grind trivia question, but there is still time to submit an answer. The winner will be announced in Monday's Morning Grind.)

By Robert Yoon

CNN Political Research Director

Sen. Joe Lieberman (D-Connecticut), now serving his third term in the U.S. Senate, made news this week by losing his party's primary to political newcomer Ned Lamont. Three terms is nothing to sneeze at, but former Tennessee Sen. Kenneth McKellar (D) had served a whopping 35 years before being unceremoniously booted in his party's Senate primary in 1952. McKellar's campaign slogan that year was, "Thinking Feller? Vote McKellar." What was the campaign slogan of the candidate who defeated McKellar in the primary?

Submit your answer to Morning.Grind@cnn.com. The lucky Grind reader who answers this question correctly will win a mildly coveted, special edition "CNN Mardis Gras 2006" bead necklace and pendant. Sure to impress all of your raucous friends during your next visit to the Big Easy. If there are multiple correct answers, a winner will be selected at random by our departing political intern Josh Lipsky, whose last day is today. In your response, please include your first name, last name, and your home town and state. The answer and winner will be announced on Monday. Good luck!

DAYAHEAD/Events making news today and through the weekend

President Bush continues his vacation in Crawford, Texas but takes time out today to attend a 1:15 p.m. ET Republican National Committee fundraiser at the Broken Spoke Ranch down the road from his own ranch. Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman introduces Bush at the fundraiser that is expected to raise $750,000 with 350 people in attendance.

The Senate is in recess until September 5, 2006. The Senate Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook: http://www.senate.gov/galleries/radiotv/list.htm

The House is in recess until September 6. The House Radio-Television Correspondents' Gallery Daybook: http://radiotv.house.gov/news-events.aspx

Sen. John Kerry (D-Massachusetts) holds a 10:30 a.m. ET conference call with Patrick Murphy, an Iraq war veteran running for Congress in Pennsylvania, to discuss the Iraq war.

Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R), a potential presidential candidate, appears at the Politics and Eggs: 2006 Issues Forum in Bedford, New Hampshire. Tonight, he performs with his band, "The Capitol Offense" at Nancy's Wall's state Senate campaign rally in Hollis.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean attends a 1 p.m. ET rally for California Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Angelides in San Francisco. On Saturday, Dean appears at a 1:15 p.m. ET kick-off picnic for the North Dakota Democratic Party in Fargo.

Former Sen. John Edwards (D-North Carolina), a potential presidential candidate, attends a fundraiser for state Sen. Daryl Beall in Fort Dodge, Iowa this afternoon. Later in the day, Edwards attends a fundraiser for state Senate candidate Rich Olive in Ames, followed by a fundraiser for Dallas County Democrats in Waukee. On Saturday, he attends a fundraiser for Marion County Democrats in Knoxville, a fundraiser for state House candidate John Calhoun in Johnston, and then a fundraiser for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture candidate Denise O'Brien in Des Moines.

New York Gov. George Pataki (R), a potential presidential candidate, attends the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines at noon. Pataki then tours an ethanol plant in Nevada, Iowa at 5:30 p.m. ET. At 6 p.m. ET, he attends a fundraiser in Nevada for Dave Deyoe, a Republican running for the House. Pataki then attends a fundraiser for Jim Kurtenbach, a Republican running for the Senate. On Saturday, Pataki attends a reception for Republican Senate candidate Larry Noble at 10 a.m. ET in Ankeny, a noon fundraiser for GOP Senate candidate Tim Morgan in Newton, and a campaign event for Republican Senate candidate Linda Livingston in Ames at 4 p.m. ET. He then tours an ethanol plant at 5:30 p.m. ET in Steamboat Rock, followed by a 6:30 p.m. ET fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party in Clear Lake and ends with a 7:45 p.m. ET Cerro Gordo County fundraiser in Clear Lake, Iowa. On Sunday, Pataki attends a 12:30 p.m. ET fundraiser for the Iowa Republican Party in Spirit Lake.

Sen. Joe Biden (D-Delaware), a potential presidential candidate, attends a discussion on domestic violence in Dubuque, Iowa at 1 p.m. ET. He meets with the media at 2:30 p.m. ET. Biden then attends a 6 p.m. ET barbecue with Democratic activists in Dubuque. On Saturday, Biden attends a 10 a.m. ET fundraiser in Dubuque for Bruce Braley, a Democratic candidate for Congress. Braley and Biden then appear at an 11:15 a.m. ET event with Democratic activists. At 1:45 p.m. ET, Biden visits the Mount Carmel Motherhouse. Later, at 5:15 p.m. ET, Biden attends a fundraiser for Jan Kvach, a Democrat who is running for the Iowa House of Representatives. Biden attends a fundraiser at 7:15 p.m. ET for state Rep. Don Shoultz in Waterloo. On Sunday, Biden has brunch with Des Moines Democratic activists at noon in Des Moines and he heads to the Iowa State Fair at 5 p.m. ET in Des Moines.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Georgia), a potential presidential candidate, signs copies of his book from 4 p.m. ET to 6 p.m. ET at the Iowa State Fair. On Saturday, Gingrich hosts breakfast at 9 a.m. ET in the Iowa Republican Party headquarters in Des Moines. Gingrich then attends an 11 a.m. ET "renewable fuels dialogue" in Des Moines with Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack (D), who is also exploring a White House bid.

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