More Great News From AP's Garbage Poll: Americans Feeling Better About the Economy. No, Really!

Looks like AP's gift to Barack Obama just keeps on giving.

As they say, a polling sample larded up with Democrats is a terrible thing to waste. Might as well milk it for all its worth.

See if this takeaway passes the sniff test.

WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans are growing more optimistic about the U.S. economy, a sentiment that is benefiting President Barack Obama despite public disenchantment with his handling of rising gasoline prices and swollen government budget deficits.

An Associated Press-GfK poll shows that more than 2 out of 5 people believe the U.S. economy will get better, while a third think it will stay the same and nearly a fourth think it will get worse, a rebound from last month's more pessimistic attitude. And, for the first time since the 100-day mark of his presidency, slightly more than half approve of Obama's stewardship of the economy.

Really? With unemployment at 9%? Gas at $4-a-gallon? 28% of homeowners underwater?

Heckuva job there, Barry! Keep up the good work! Go golfing once in a while, why don'tcha? We wouldn't want you to get burned out or anything.

Both findings represent a boost for Obama, though he still must overcome ill will over government red ink and the price of gas at the pump, now hovering around $4 a gallon.

Oh yeah. That.

But the public's brighter economic outlook also could signal a boost to the current recovery, which relies to a great degree on consumer behavior. A public that is confident about economic performance is more likely to spend more and accelerate the economy's resurgence.

The poll was conducted May 5-9 in the aftermath of the U.S. commando raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the al-Qaida leader behind the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The spike in public esteem for Obama as a result of that successful clandestine mission may have helped Obama's standing on issues other than national security.

May have - but probably didn't.

Cross-posted.