Opinion: Bin Laden’s death and polls: Some fearful findings

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While a Monday poll showed the slaying of Osama bin Laden had boosted President Obama’s approval rating by a modest 9%, a new Gallup survey this morning produces some more disturbing findings.

The violent demise early Monday of Al Qaeda’s founder, who masterminded the mass murders of 9/11, among other deadly incidents, prompted spontaneous late-night street celebrations in Washington and in New York, where the president will visit Ground Zero tomorrow.

A quick Pew/Washington Post poll that first day found 56% approved of the Democrat’s job now, up from 47% in April. The same poll found 38% now disapprove of Obama’s job, down from 45% last month.

An historic comparison by Public Opinion Strategies of presidential poll bumps after national security events predicts Obama’s increased approval will be around 13% and last maybe 22 weeks, compared with George W. Bush’s seven-week 15% jump after capturing Saddam Hussein.

However, a new Gallup/USA Today poll out this morning also finds that the death of that tall, haunting Saudi man has prompted more than 6 in 10 Americans to believe that a significant act of terrorism within the United States is very or somewhat likely in the next several weeks.

Seventeen percent believe such an attack is ‘very likely.’

That 62% is the highest number fearing such an imminent attack in eight years, since the start of the Iraq war in 2003.

Additionally, fewer than 4 in 10 (39%) say Bin Laden’s death makes them feel a lot more confident that the country can succeed in the ongoing war against Islamic terrorism. A third feels a little more confident about that.

Related:

Yes, SEALs were in on the Osama raid, but aides hail Obama’s office bravery

-- Andrew Malcolm

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