Public Support For Obama's Counter-Terror Policies On The Rise

Back in November, President Obama's approach to prosecuting the war on terror earned him a 53% approval rating on the issue. Since then, we've seen the Christmas Crotchfire attack, a sudden focus on Yemen as a locus of terrorist activity and a sustained attack from Obama's political opponents on his decision to apply the rule of law in the prosecution of terrorist suspects.

The net result? Now, according to the latest Washington Post/ABC News poll, 56% of the public supports the President's approach to prosecuting the war on terror. Any questions?

Spencer Ackerman has more:

Politico reported yesterday that continuing to go after Obama on terrorism was a central aspect of Sen. Mitch McConnell's (R-Ky.) political strategy for 2010. But look at the Post's numbers for comparative handling of terrorism. Obama has the confidence of 47 percent of the public on the issue, while the Republican Party -- for decades the party that enjoyed greater public trust on national security -- only claims 42 percent. McConnell is a political genius, clearly.

One of the things I'd underscore is that GOP mouthpieces like Kit Bond and Peter Hoekstra just didn't do their party any favors by doubling down on a frenzied, hyperventilating approach to these issues. Trying to procure a victory from a failed attack on behalf of al Qaeda seems to have been a big mistake. Cavalier attempts at fundraising off the issue demonstrated a hollowness of character. And the constant marches to the camera to demonstrate their lack of understanding of what Miranda rights are and how they work just doesn't fly in a country where "Law And Order" is on the teevee about 17 times a day.

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