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It was a much drearier Tuesday morning in the Northeast today than it was six years ago, but once again Americans awoke to the horrific images of commercial airplanes crashing into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. This time, of course, it was a replay.

The sixth anniversary of 9/11 appears to herald the most visible return to normalcy since the attacks occurred, with many Americans going about their daily lives as usual and taking time only for personal, informal remembrances, new surveys show. But the scar the attacks left on the nation's psyche has not been erased.

About seven in 10 respondents to a new Gallup/USA Today poll said 9/11 was the "most memorable news event" of their lifetimes. Eight in 10 told Zogby pollsters it was the most significant historical event of their lives, and nearly two-thirds said they think about the attacks at least once a week. Most Zogby respondents strongly agreed that Americans should pause to remember the attacks every Sept. 11 in some way, whether it be through a moment of silence or a visit to a memorial site.

But what about the lingering effects of that day? Did it really change Americans' lives forever? The Gallup/USA results suggest that perceptions about 9/11's impact differ from reality. Half said they believe Americans have made permanent lifestyle changes since the attacks, but a 71-percent majority said they have not made those adjustments themselves.

Still, 63 percent of those surveyed by CNN/Opinion Research Corporation pollsters in anticipation of today's anniversary said the country has not returned to normal after the attacks, and it never will.

One of the lingering effects of 9/11 is fear of another attack. Although Americans appear to recognize some gains in the fight against terrorism over the past six years -- more than 60 percent of Zogby respondents said the country is safer today -- they recognize that the threat has not passed. A 47-percent plurality in the Zogby poll predicted that the U.S. would be attacked again within the next five years, and another 19 percent suggested it would happen in the next decade.

In the latest CNN/ORC poll, nearly half said they didn't think either the U.S. and its allies or the terrorists are winning the war on terrorism. One in five saw the battle going in the terrorists' favor. In another CNN/ORC poll conducted in early August, six in 10 registered dissatisfaction with U.S. efforts against terrorism. Sixty-seven percent of Americans surveyed in that poll said the country is less safe or about as safe today as it was on Sept. 11, 2001.

Rudy Giuliani And The 9/11 Balancing Act
Six years ago, then-Mayor Rudy Giuliani was in the spotlight as New York City was attacked by terrorists. On today's anniversary of those events, Giuliani is trying to balance the delicate task of remembrance with his current presidential ambitions.

While the Republican front-runner has drawn some criticism for his participation in today's memorial service at the World Trade Center site, a new Gallup/USA Today poll released Monday finds that 92 percent of Americans believe Giuliani's presence there is appropriate.

According to Gallup/USA, Giuliani continues to lead the GOP field with 32-percent support among Republican voters. Sixty percent of respondents in a half-sample said they believe it is acceptable for Giuliani to tout his leadership on 9/11 as one of his qualifications for the White House. Thirty-seven percent said he should not reference his role "to avoid gaining politically from a tragedy."

But a new CBS News/New York Times poll raises questions about whether Giuliani is seen as the most effective "anti-terrorism" candidate. Among Republican primary voters, only 26 percent said he would do a better job fighting terrorism, while 61 percent said he would do about the same as other GOP contenders. Still, among those who said they were likely to vote for Giuliani, one-quarter cited his handling of the 9/11 attacks as the main reason they wanted him to win the nomination.

The Public Pulse -- Latest Opinions At A Glance
The table below offers the latest key national numbers. Click on the number in question for poll details. (Last updated April 2)

20% Job approval rating.	28% Job approval rating.	19% Give the economy a positive rating.	20% Say country is going in right direction.

The above icons represent (left to right) Congress, President Bush, the economy and the direction of the country.

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