Camp over; regular season looms

It seems like it's been going on forever, but it's only just beginning.

In a slow time in a slow part of the year -- underscored by the president going on a 10-day vacation -- the two parties are launching grassroots efforts statewide this week, before the traditional launch of the regular political season after Labor Day.

GOP Senate candidate Pat Toomey started on a 23-city bus tour today in Berks County that comes to Pittsburgh and adjacent county seats on Wednesday. Democrats announced they will follow the tour with a giant tiny "Wall Street" sign, "to remind Pennsylvania voters of Toomey's record of putting Wall Street special interests first," party leaders said in a news release.

Republicans have been hammering Democrats on the country's awful economy and unemployment rates, and will continue to do so the next two-plus months. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is trying to reframe the argument, hitting back this week with business-themed events nationwide, as well as reports touting the accomplishments of freshmen and sophomore incumbents, reports The Hill.

The D-Trip is also doing a major get-out-the-vote drive this weekend, with the goal of knocking on 200,000 doors. Here's Hotline's take: "Dems believe they hold a significant grassroots advantage and it it one reason they believe they can hang on to their House and Senate majorities. It'll be key to watch whether that field infrastructure shows up this year."

Obama's political arm Organizing For America will release more details on the GOTV effort during the week.