TERRORISM WAY UP AS ELECTION ISSUE – AT 11:16 A.M. ET:  Obviously, this can change over the coming months, depending on events, but terrorism is once again a major political issue.  From ABC News: 

Terrorism suddenly rivals the economy as the single most important issue to Americans in the 2016 presidential election -- and a year out, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds more people paying close attention to the contest than at this point in any race back to 1988.

After years of dominating the political landscape, the economy now has company. Given the Nov. 13 attacks in Paris, 28 percent of Americans now call terrorism the top issue in their choice for president, compared with 33 percent who cite the economy. Nothing else comes close.

Attention, moreover, is focused as never before. Three-quarters of Americans say they are closely following the 2016 race, including three in 10 who are following it very closely. That’s the highest level of attention at this point in a presidential race in polls back nearly 30 years.

COMMENT:  Caution – don't assume that concern for national security will favor the Republicans.  It will depend on who the GOP candidate is, and his or her approach to the issue.  Outbursts and sound bites are not enough.  Voters must have confidence in the candidate.  And the role of the media will be to build up confidence in Hillary Clinton and destroy confidence in her Republican opponent.  That's the way the game is played.

November 22,  2015