From the Washingtonpost.com:
The poll provides a view of the impact of bin Laden’s death in a state widely viewed as a bellwether for Obama’s chances for reelection nationally. The interviews were already underway when Obama delivered the news late in the evening of May 1; 677 were conducted before the announcement, with 503 afterward.
Against all five potential GOP contenders tested in the poll, Obama stretched his margins after the death of bin Laden. In a hypothetical matchup against former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney, for example, interviews before the bin Laden announcement showed voters splitting 48 percent for the president and 46 percent for Romney. Afterward, Obama edged ahead, 51 to 44 percent.
Against former Alaska governor Sarah Palin and businessman Donald Trump, twin 19-point Obama advantages swelled to 31 points in interviews conducted in the three days after bin Laden’s death.
Still, big vulnerabilities remain for the president, the first Democratic presidential nominee to win Virginia in more than 40 years. More than half of all Virginia voters are dissatisfied, even angry, with the Obama administration’s policies, and a vast majority retains a bleak view of the economy. Those opinions did not change with bin Laden’s death, leaving open the question of whether, or how long, the spike in Obama’s fortunes will last.
The poll reveals the movability of voters in Virginia, which firmly established itself as a new battleground in 2008. Two years later, in the tea-party-infused, low-turnout elections of 2010, Virginia swung in the opposite direction, ousting three of the state’s six Democratic congressmen.
What will it take for President Obama to claim Virginia? What will keep Virginia blue? How will the outcome of this election affect the state election in 2013? Is the Prez’s bump artificial, a flash in the pan, or can he sustain it? Why does killing Bin Laden increase Obama’s popularity?
The killing of bin laden was a testament to Obama’s courage, wisdom and leadership. I don’t think the other candidates, such as Sara Palin or Don Trump, measure up. The birther issue and Obama’s grades in Harvard are the only thing that they have going for them right now. It’s the best they can come up with.
@Starryflights
Really? I think courage and leadership is saying “let’s roll” knowing you and everyone your with could die. Not sure how much courage it took to send in a kill team against mostly unarmed men and women when you knew of the site and possible occupants for a year and then sit back and watch it on TV in a situation room.
@Dan Cooper
That is really a very inaccurate description of what happened to suit your own political needs. Had that mission gone south, not only Americans would have been killed, I expect a presidency could have been killed also. Remember Jimmy Carter? Remember Black Hawk Down?
“Let’s Roll” was a very brave act. However, comparing it to ordering a dangerous kill on Bin Laden is like apples and oranges.
Have we FINALLY discovered the truth about Starry?
That Starry is actually posing as a hyper-partisan moonbat but is really a conservative parodying liberals?
Because that first sentence, “The killing of bin laden was a testament to Obama’s courage, wisdom and leadership.” is the bomb for comedy.
Ahem…’moonbat’? No insults with the word ‘moon’ in them por favor. MH does not like part of her name taken in vain. 😈
Killing others isn’t just for conservatives.
As for the bump in polls, let’s see how the economy is doing. By the time elections show up, Bin Laden’s execution will be forgotten.
@Cargo
I am so tired of hearing about it I could scream. Could we hurry it along?
@Moon-howler
Sorry.
Hearing about it? President Obama is going to make sure its in the headlines as often as Senator Kerry reminded us that he served in Vietnam…..
Its the only thing in his term that’s worked out as it should.
A state that elected 3 conservatives to our highest state offices, an economy still struggling and no real clear cut plan on how to dig out of it? And then telling FEMA to say no to a request for help from Virginia.
I don’t think VA will fall for the same song and dance again.
I’m not worried.
Words have meaning and impact, and I hate the daily bastardization of the English language in the press and elsewhere. “Courage,” “wisdom,” “leadership,” “hero,” “Nobel Peace Prize”–words that used to pack a punch are almost meaningless anymore.
Emma, you are a ‘hero’ for recycling! 😉
Because we’ll still be at war with Al Qaeda. And soldiers will still be dying. And we’ll be paying over $4 at the pump. It will unfortunately go down in history as yet another “Mission Accomplished” nonstarter. And here I was feeling so celebratory.
Ah Emma, I can always count on you for that old reality check.
@Marin, I am not sure what you are saying. I would say VAs economy is doing fairly well, all things considered. I don’t like the VRS thing and I am not sure how I feel about wooing Steven Speilberg, but McDonnell is chasing business in the far east as we speak.
As for electing conservatives …that is historically what we do. If nothing else, VA relies on tradition. Don’t worry, it won’t last. We will go through the cycle again.
@Emma
You can still feel celebratory. Killing an enemy general is always a good thing. Celebrate with an Osama: two shots with a splash of water….
@Moon-howler
Electing conservatives? Really? Kaine, Webb, and Warner? I’d say that with the influence of Northern VA, this state might be leaning purple…..
@Cargo
Webb and Warner are both moderates.
Historically, the 3 Republicans elected at the state level follows a pattern.
I wouldn’t count on it happening next time, for sure. If it were still politically correct to paint bull’s eyes, I expect Kookinelli would have a big one painted on him. But alas, we no longer do that. He can suceed himself, can’t he?
It’s still legal to paint a bulls eye on a politician. Some cook on FAR left radio (self-run) wanted the SEALs to pay a ‘visit’ to Bush and finish the job. :shrug: No media coverage of substance.
Cooch can run again for AG especially if Bolling wants Gov and Cooch doesn’t want to run against him. Entirely up to Cooch though. But, the Governor can’t run again after his term.
MH, NVA is doing pretty well. Southern Virginia, not so much. The economy is a major concern for a lot of people. Jobs, jobs, jobs.
I will agree that NoVA has fewer jobs problems than other parts of the state. But….the entire state is in better shape than many. I think south west had employment problems long before this recession.
I don’t understand the SEALs remark?
@Moon-howler
Cooch will probably run again for AG. Or tick off a lot of traditional politicians in Virginia and run for Governor “out of sequence”…….
As for Webb and Warner being moderates…hmmmm
http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2011/feb/16/jamie-radtke/jamie-radtke-says-sen-jim-webb-reliable-vote-barac/
http://novatownhall.com/2010/08/04/jeff-barnett-another-liberal-in-disguise-jim-webb-clone/
Webb backed Reid and Pelosi’s agenda 85-87% of the time.
100% for NARAL
90% ACLU
98% pro-union
30% Defense according to Center for Defense Policy (which is a surprise.)
Rated A by the NEA
voted for ObamaCare
Webb…not so much.
@Cargo,
I don’t think that looks like a liberal rating. Jamie Radtke is an extremist, in my opinion. I am not sure what ‘pro-union’ is based on.
I think anyone not a member of the John Birch Society is considered liberal by some members of the tea party. The center has moved so far left Republicans have started to glow in the dark.
Warner: * Votes with party 93%
http://www.opencongress.org/person/show/412321_Mark_Warner
Warner…..even less of a moderate than Webb.
These two are moderates only compared to Pelosi, Reid, Schumer, etc…..
@Cargo, I don’t agree. I am basing my statement on Warner as governor of Virginia. Once a person gets to the Senate, the rules totally change.
Who would you like to replace him with? I doubt if it can be done.
@Moon-howler
Politifact is the one verifying the rating. Not Radtke.
And Politifact is not conservative.
The pro-union vote is rated by the AFL-CIO.
These are not ratings by conservatives except for that defense grade. They are all by the liberal groups.
Warner may have been a moderate governor, but, Webb and Warner are liberal Senators.
@Moon-howler
For the SEAL remark (remember we’re talking about sanity in political discourse) ref http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2011/05/lib_talker_when_are_seals_goin.html. You can try finding more mainstream references but like I said.. Barely any coverage.
I don’t think that Mr. Obama has as great of a chance in Virginia as you think he does. He got a very tiny bump with ObL but that’ll fade as people try to keep their homes, pay for gas and food, find a job, etc. People want to see a plan and we only hear silence.
VA has it better off than other states – yes – but I think he’s forgotten the pocket book issues.
By the way…
If you have an aquarium, don’t get that OBL brand fish food. Its said to contain lead…..
😈
@Cargosquid
It is one of those when did you stop beating your wife kind of questions. So Radtke makes a dumb statement that a fact checking organization can more of less verify? It still makes it a stupid statement unless you are shrieking at your base for the nomination. Of course Democrats are generally going to vote with democrats. duh. No reason for Jamie to act like an ape discovering fire. If she truly believe what she said it simply means she knows very little about either man prior to them holding their current office.
@Cargosquid
You know that lead after taste? That’s the taste of freedom.
@Moon-howler
What dumb statement? Webb and Warner have been reliable votes for Obama’s agenda. There’s nothing wrong with that. They should be proud of their Democratic party voting record. That’s what they signed up for.
Unless, of course, THERE IS a problem with supporting Obama’s agenda….. Radtke didn’t treat it as a surprise. Besides, I picked that post as evidence to back my statement. Their voting records speak for themselves. And Webb, as a Sec. of the Navy, was a disappointment to many of us. And as a politician, let’s say..his support for Obama is not a surprise. Same with Warner.
@Cargosquid
You obviously know nothing about why Webb resigned as SecNav. SecDef wanted to whack the Navy and Webb absolutely disagreed. It was a case of honor…
I know why he resigned. Reagan and the Sec Def decided that they couldn’t reach 600 and that a 543 ship Navy was big enough. Webb made big noises about supporting the common sailor and fighting for what he believed in. He quit. His subsequent actions as a politician have borne out my earlier opinion of him.
I’d say this latest attempt at Comprehensive Amnesty ought to seal Obama’s win in VA.