The Note's Sneak Peek

July 9, 2007— -- Karl Rove thinks Iraq will not dominate 2008. But for Tuesday at least, the war in Iraq is all anyone will be talking about.

While speaking to the Aspen Institute on Sunday, Rove said that he does not expect the Iraq war to be the dominant issue in next year's campaign because of his "assumption" about "where it is -- where it is likely to be" come March, April, and May. LINK

Beyond his own assumption about where U.S. troop levels are likely to be, Rove thinks Iraq will lose its dominant status because Democrats will "want the issue to be toned down" so as not to box in a potential Democratic president.

". . . I think this is sort of like Korea in 1952 and 53," said Rove of the Democrats seeking the White House, "where Eisenhower made a comment which led people to believe that he was for change: 'I'll go to Korea,' but in essence, kept in place the policies of Truman after the election."

One Democrat walking the Ike-like tightrope between a call to end the war with a commitment to an on-going four-pronged mission is Hillary Clinton. LINK

In her first Iraq speech since Rove trotted out his Eisenhower metaphor, the former first lady delivers 10:00 am ET remarks in Des Moines, Iowa.

Clinton will not be the only '08er discussing Iraq.

Back in Washington, John McCain takes to the Senate floor for his first public remarks on Iraq since returning from the war-torn country.

To work his way into some print stories, Joe Biden holds a 10:30 am ET conference call with reporters to discuss the upcoming Senate debate on Iraq.

Carl Levin and Jack Reed -- the sponsors of the Iraq amendment being debated this week -- hold a 10:00 am ET press conference in the Senate Radio-TV Gallery.

There's also a congressional control dimension.

As the Iraq debate gets underway in the Senate, the committee charged with holding onto Democratic control of the Senate -- the DSCC -- is going up Tuesday with ads hitting at least four GOPers up for reelection in 2008, reports the Washington Post's Chris Cillizza. LINK

Just a stone's throw away from where Clinton is speaking in Des Moines, Barack Obama is planning an Iowa town hall meeting on the economy at 11:00 am ET. LINK