Will Osama bin Laden's death impact the 2012 presidential election?
The death of Osama bin Laden is a momentous episode in American history that will undoubtedly re-shape the political dialogue for weeks and months to come.
While making hard and fast predictions about what it all means for our politics is tough, there are a few ways in which the impact will be almost immediately felt.
First, there will be a period of putting aside partisanship, similar to what happened in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attack that introduced the world to bin Laden.
From statements of support by Republican presidential candidates to an impromptu rally outside of the White House last night, it's clear that at least for now, politics is on hold. The question, of course, is how long it will last.
Second, President Obama will likely experience a significant popularity boost in the aftermath of the news.
While the killing of Osama took a decade and involved three presidents and thousands of people, it was Obama who gave the order that ultimately led to the terrorist's death. It was Obama who announced the news last night. And it will be Obama who benefits most from a sense that he did what he said he would do.
This is a significant moment in the Obama presidency -- perhaps the biggest moment. Amidst the celebrations and renewed patriotism, it's easy to assume that bin Laden's death will be a significant issue in 2012. But, history has shown that a struggling economy trumps all else in electoral politics.
At the end of the day, the 2012 election will STILL be about the economy and how people feel about their financial futures.
But, this is a major win for president Obama that will buy him time and goodwill from the American people.
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