Gallup: Obama approval rating highest since bin Laden killing
(CBS News) President Obama's approval rating has risen slowly since last summer and is now its highest monthly average since May 2011, according to Gallup's daily tracking poll, which showed support increasing particularly among independents.
Mr. Obama's approval rating averaged 47 percent in April 2012 - just below his 50 percent approval rating last May, when a team of U.S. Navy SEALS killed Osama bin Laden. The poll boost comes as the president reminds voters of the successful raid on the al Qaeda leader, spurring debate over whether he is inappropriately politicizing the event.
The president's approval rating reached a low point in the summer of 2011, when it stood at 41 percent. Since then, it's climbed the most -- by eight points -- among independents. His approval rating improved particularly among independent women, according to Gallup.
Still, as in CBS News/ New York Times polling, Gallup finds that Mr. Obama remains essentially tied with Republican Mitt Romney among voters nationally.
