One of the big questions that will drive this fall's elections is this: Do the American people feel safer since 9/11, as the GOP insists they are, or do they think we're less safe, as Dems argue? You could see that battle playing out in microcosm yesterday in the hard fought debate between GOP incumbent Senator Jim Talent and Dem challenger Claire McCaskill. The voters' verdict on this question could hinge on how focused they are on the mayhem and destruction in Iraq -- which explains why Talent avoided any mention of Iraq, while McCaskill focused relentlessly on it. The debate is here -- get ready for much more like it between now and November.