Evaluating the War President

Long have I believed, sometimes cynically, that Americans as a whole vote their pocket books -- except during war. Then national security dominates. Other issues burn in various camps, but guns vs. butter concerns tilt most elections.
So, naturally the economy and post 9/11 hostilities have been and will continue to be points of debate in the 2004 Presidential Election. I think it's fair to say that most Americans are being asked to decide whether George Bush is a successful war president.
This makes Bob Woodward's book, "Plan of Attack" an interesting read. Assistant managing editor at the Washington Post, Woodward has a general reputation of being even handed in his treatment of issues. "Plan of Attack" is a follow up of "Bush at War" (which focused on the war in Afghanistan) and charts behind-the-scenes discussions and events in the run up to war in Iraq. The Bush/Cheney campaign even has it on their current suggested reading list (accessed on 8/8/04).
It's a sizable tome at 467 pages. If you want a quick overview, check out Viewpoints. The writer quotes not only the book but Woodward on CBS 60 Minutes and CNN Larry King Show.
It doesn't appear that the book will have much of an audience. Kerry and Bush support has already lined up, leaving few in the pool of undecided voters. Still, even the excerpts can provide a better picture of what happened than current rhetoric.
Here's the wild card: how will voters react if there's another terrorist attack on U.S. soil?