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Obama's bin Laden Bounce Is Over

President's approval fades, Mitt sitting pretty: Poll

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jun 7, 2011 2:38 AM CDT | Updated Jun 7, 2011 3:45 AM CDT

(Newser) – The raid that killed Osama bin Laden bought President Obama barely a month of higher approval ratings, according to the latest Washington Post/ABCNews poll. The president's approval rating, which stood at 47% in April, surged to 57% in May, but has now dropped right back down to 47%, the poll found. Disapproval of how the president is handling the economy and the deficit is at a high, and two-thirds of respondents say the country is on the wrong track.

The bad news for Obama isn't good news for Republican contenders, however—unless they're named Mitt Romney. The former Massachusetts governor is in first place for the GOP nomination, with Sarah Palin in second, according to the poll. Romney would be in a dead heat with Obama if the election were held today; Palin would lose by 17 percentage points. Around half of Republicans said they weren't happy with their options for the nomination, compared to less than a third four years ago.

President Obama addresses troops at Fort Campbell, Kentucky last month after he met and decorated the assault force behind the clandestine raid that killed Osama bin Laden. (Getty Images)

President Obama speaks to a group of auto workers in Toledo last week. (Getty Images)

President Barack Obama addresses workers after his tour of Chrysler Group’s Toledo Supplier Park in Toledo last week. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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Showing 3 of 12 comments

Sweet-Pea

Jun 7, 2011 8:46 AM CDT

Ah, Obummer.....you came in on such a giddy wave of promise and hope. And now we have your legacy of bailed out corporate thugs, renewal of the Patriot Act, the abysmal failure to properly address the Gulf oil spill, the escalation of the war in Afghanistan, the failure of your health care package, and…….oh, yes – the economy. Looking forward to 2012 election… Tweedle Dee or Tweedle Dum, Will it be Sarah P, or Obum?

sache

Jun 7, 2011 8:42 AM CDT

It was a given that the bump wouldn't last. So how is this news. Tell me something i didn't expect.

RinoHunter

Jun 7, 2011 8:00 AM CDT

Obama said the other day after the dismal jobs numbers were announced, "It's just a bump in the road to recovery." The Osama killing was just a "bump in the road" on his approval. Now he's back down in the ditch.

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Obama's bin Laden Bounce Is Over

President's approval fades, Mitt sitting pretty: Poll

OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

Mitt Romney • Washington Post ABC poll • Sarah Palin • Election 2012 • President Obama • 2012 Presidential Candidates • President Obama approval rating • Mitt Romney 2012 • Osama bin Laden dead

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