Having just got back from a five-week recess on Monday, lawmakers facing tough reelection back home would like to dip out of Congress ASAP. This way they can get back to campaigning.

[Sen. Harry] Reid, who is protecting a thin majority, declared on the Senate floor Monday that this month’s schedule would be “very short and compact,” but did not say precisely when senators would leave town.

A Democratic aide said offices have been alerted unofficially that they would recess by Sept. 21. Reid has declined to set a date publicly to give himself more flexibility and keep GOP critics in the dark.

[The Hill]