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President Barack Obama's approval rating has hit its highest point in two years — 60 percent — and more than half of Americans now say he deserves to be re-elected, according to an Associated Press-GfK poll taken after U.S. forces killed al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden.

In worrisome signs for Republicans, the president's standing improved not just on foreign policy but also on the economy, and independent Americans — a key voting bloc in the November 2012 presidential election — caused the overall uptick in support by sliding back to Obama after fleeing for much of the past two years.

Comfortable majorities of the public now call Obama a strong leader who will keep America safe. Nearly three-fourths — 73 percent — also now say they are confident that Obama can effectively handle terrorist threats. And he improved his standing on Afghanistan, Iraq and the United States' relationships with other countries.

Overall, Obama's approval rating is up slightly from 53 percent in March and a 47 percent low point following last fall's midterm congressional elections, in which Republicans won control of the House and gained seats in the Senate. It was 64 percent in May 2009, just months after he was sworn into office.

Also, 53 percent now say he deserves to be re-elected; 43 percent say he should be fired, making it the first time in an AP-GfK poll that more people say he should get a second term than not.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans who call themselves political independents now approve of him; only about half did in March. They were critical to his 2008 victory but many had fled as his administration increased government spending and passed a sweeping health care overhaul. They could just as easily turn away again between now and next fall.

Among the poll's other findings:

• Sixty-nine percent say Obama will keep America safe, up from 61 percent in March; 65 percent call him a "strong leader," up from 57 percent.

• Sixty-three percent say Obama cares about people like them; 63 percent also say that he understands the problems of ordinary Americans.

• Sixty-three percent view Obama favorably, up from 59 percent in March.

Still, his re-election is far from certain. And there are warning signs in the poll.

• Nearly two-thirds of people — 61 percent — disapprove of his handling on gas prices, even though there's little a president can do about them.

• Less than half give him positive marks on dealing with the federal budget deficit or taxes, two big upcoming issues.

The Associated Press-GfK Poll was conducted May 5-9 by GfK Roper Public Affairs and Corporate Communications. It involved landline and cellphone interviews with 1,001 adults nationwide and has a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

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Let's see; some here have gotten joy out of posting Obama's numbers being down. So do I get to jump up and down about this one? Mind you, I'm not an Obama fan, but given the options so far from the right, I prefer he be re-elected, "you betcha!"

I don't take it seriously; polls are polls and things change all the time. I just wanted to snark.

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I find it amusing, how fickle people are. Yes, he deserves some credit, but as you said, Riona, only some...the Seals really deserve the credit. But I won't deny him his moment in the sun, it will pass all too quickly.

It's just funny, how people change their approval over one thing or another, and I got a kick out of posting the current approval rating, since some here have taken SUCH joy in crowing about it when it's low, saying it's the end for him, etc., etc. Made me smile is all.

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People are constantly riding the waves and the winds of current events, when a president does something that people see as good they like him more and then they like him less when something else happens, there's an eb and flow and people are easily swayed one way or the other depending on how they feel at any given moment.

I don't know how much approval ratings really figure into things.

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I'm with you Riona, I think Obama has been getting more credit from the media than he deserves for the OBL raid.

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I was enjoying watching these folks happily gamboling in their fantasy land.

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Emm, sorry. I too was amused, but considered it a public service. Those craving their blinders shouldn't whine since I gave the spoiler alert.

How much amusement do you really think we should absorb without feeling guilty for leaving the delusion alone? Information, facts, reality IS compassion.

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... libtards who refuse to face facts.

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