Even better than the 9-point bounce polled yesterday, a New York Times/CBS poll says President Obama's job approval rating has risen 11 points from last month to 57 percent, an increase attributed to gains from Republicans and independents in the aftermath of Osama bin Laden's death. Will the positive vibes last?

Maybe not. In 2003, after the capture of Saddam Hussein, President Bush's ratings increased 8-points but evaporated within a month. The Washington Post/Pew poll from yesterday projected a "limited ratings boost" and the Times notes that the "goodwill toward Mr. Obama did not extend to his economic policies. More than half said they disapproved of his handling of the economy." CBS notes that only 34 percent approve of his handling of the economy, "the lowest level of his presidency."

For a historical look at how long national security successes can aid a president's popularity, our colleague Josh Green points us to this helpful chart from Public Opinion Strategies:

Photo by Reuters

Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at jhudson at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire.
John Hudson