Bin Laden's Death a Boost for Obama

Palin, Trump, and other favorites weigh in

(NEWSER) - Despite the fact that Osama bin Laden's death means a popularity boost for the man they'd be up against, potential Republican presidential candidates are of course reacting positively to the news. Politico offers a roundup:

• Sarah Palin: "Americans tonight are united in celebration and gratitude. God bless all the brave men and women in our military and our intelligence services who contributed to carrying out the successful mission to bring bin Laden to justice."
• Donald Trump: "I want to personally congratulate President Obama and the men and women of the Armed Forces for a job well done. ... I am so proud to see Americans standing shoulder to shoulder, waving the American flag in celebration of this great victory."

...but he's still doing better than GOP field

(NEWSER) - The economy may be casting a shadow over President Obama’s reelection hopes, but he’s still doing better than a GOP field that’s not inspiring much enthusiasm. In a new Washington Post-ABC News poll , 47% approve of the job Obama’s doing overall, with 50% disapproving. But when it comes to how he’s handling the economy, the disapproval number climbs to record-tying high of 57% overall, and inches even higher among the all-important independent crowd. More»

President's approval rating shoots to 53%

(NEWSER) - President Obama's approval rating has jumped 9 percentage points over four months to 53%, and he's posting double-digit leads over his top Republican opponents, a poll finds. Obama leads Mitt Romney by 10 points, 53% to 43%, and Rick Santorum by 11 points, 53% to 42%. Competing against a generic Republican, Obama comes out on top by 5 points; that hypothetical contest was tied in November, Politico notes. More»

...even though 57% of voters disapprove of his handling of the economy

(NEWSER) - More than half of voters approve of President Obama’s job performance and would at least consider reelecting him—even though 57% of them disapprove of they way he is handling the economy, a Politico-George Washington University poll finds. Some 52% approve of the president’s work so far, and 72% approve of him personally; both figures mark 7-point jumps over an October poll. Meanwhile, 59% say they’ll “definitely” vote for him in 2012 or will “consider” it; only 38% said they “definitely will not.” More»

It certainly appears so, based on re-election prospects: Dana Milbank

(NEWSER) - President Obama looks like a man who's having fun lately: He's singing Al Green , playing with a marshmallow cannon science project, hanging out with Super Bowl winners. And why not? The president "just might be the luckiest man alive," writes Dana Milbank in the Washington Post . The economy —and his poll numbers —are improving, he's raising a lot of money, and his GOP opponents "are shaping up to be as formidable as, well, marshmallows." More»