IS OBAMA UP? – AT 9:14 A.M. ET:  The New York Times, in ecstasy, reports that President Obama is suddenly riding high in the polls:

Support for President Obama has risen sharply following the killing of Osama bin Laden by American military forces in Pakistan, with a majority now approving of his overall job performance, as well as his handling of foreign policy, the war in Afghanistan and the threat of terrorism, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

The glow of national pride seemed to rise above partisan politics, as support for the president rose significantly among both Republicans and independents. In all, 57 percent said they now approved of the president’s job performance, up from 46 percent last month.

Not so fast, Manhattan West Siders.  It turns out that the poll was conducted among only 532 adults, not even registered voters.

By contrast, Scott Rasmussen is reporting very little bounce for the president.  He polls among likely voters, where approval for the president, even after the bin Laden bounce, is, in Rasmussen's poll, at 48%.

The numbers will probably be all over the place for a time, but will settle down.  As we've noted here in previous posts, military victories do not necessarily translate into political triumphs, unless they occur very close to an election.  Our election is a year and a half away.

May 4, 2011