On Tuesday, the Bush campaign aired an ad accusing Kerry of "playing
politics with national security." The commercial takes liberties with
the Massachusetts senator's record on the Patriot Act (search), which
expanded the government's surveillance and detention powers following
the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

A day later, Attorney General John Ashcroft warned that Al Qaeda
(search) is determined to launch attacks in the United States over the
next few months. While nobody doubts that America is under constant
threat, some officials suggested that Ashcroft overstated his case in a
rare news conference.

A senior administration official privy to the latest intelligence said
there is no new information about threats against the United States.
Overseas, yes, but not here.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid publicly
contradicting the White House and Justice Department, said he and
colleagues outside the two buildings have privately questioned whether
Ashcroft's move was politically motivated.