Bin Laden's death gives Obama a boost

WASHINGTON -- Osama bin Laden's death gives President Barack Obama a huge boost as he faces low poll numbers, but even that may not be enough to keep Americans' minds off economic troubles that could derail the Democratic president's 2012 re-election campaign.

In a boost to Obama, whose approval rating has been stuck below 50 percent, crowds gathered outside the White House and at the site of the World Trade Center on Sunday night to cheer and chant, "U.S.A., U.S.A." and "Yes we can" -- his 2008 election slogan -- well into the night.

Even some of his harshest Republican critics praised Obama -- and his Republican predecessor George W. Bush -- for their efforts against the mastermind of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

"It's an obvious net-plus. And it will be a good week for Obama," said Christopher Arterton, a professor of political management at George Washington University. "And then probably next week we'll be back to the deficit and budget crisis and then things will move on."

Killing the al-Qaida leader will go far in overcoming Republicans' contention that Obama, like any Democrat, is weak on national security issues. He had been repeatedly charged with indecisiveness as Washington struggled to react to this year's "Arab Spring" uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East and North Africa.

Feelings of patriotism after the 2001 attacks helped keep Bush in office when he sought re-election in 2004 and bin Laden's death could similarly boost Obama, even though voters do not go to the polls until November 2012.

"A year and a half is a lifetime in politics, but I think this really does boost his foreign policy credentials," Arterton said.

InTrade, which allows people to bet on the outcome of events, showed Obama's re-election chances soaring after news of bin Laden's death.

Voters' economic concerns have been suppressing Obama's approval ratings, weeks after he formally launched a re-election bid in which he is, so far, the favorite against a weak, unsettled Republican field.

Americans have been particularly frustrated as gasoline prices exceed $4 per gallon. A Washington Post-ABC News poll last week showed 71 percent felt gas prices were causing them financial hardship and 57 percent disapproved of how Obama was handling the economy.