Killing OBL will be worn as a badge of honor by Democrats in the 2012 election.

[Township75]

All Democrats, Obama, those running for congress, even those at the state level, will boast how OBL was found and killed by a Democratic administration. They will note how this information came from Guantamino Bay which the Dems kept open.
They will note how they expanded the war into Pakistan.
Their supporters will beat their opponents with this information to fight off allegations of weakness, and use it to show strenght.
And this will resonate with the voters. And the wins for Democrats will be big.

[Deep13]

1. Yeah, but by then no one will care. nt

[bigwillq]

2. Yes, but if the economy is still poor, and if people are still out of jobs

and if gas is still over $4/gal or higher, how many will really care?

[William769]

3. I don't believe Democrats will be that crass.

It will help them, but I don't believe they will campaign on that.

I firmly believe 2012 elections is going to be mostly about domestic issues.

[slackmaster]

4. Honestly, I think it will be forgotten well before the 2012 election

Memories are short, and there is plenty of time for new natural disasters, wars, economic collapses, etc.

[elocs]

5. The reality is that you do what you must do to win. Those who do not have a name: Losers.

Certainly this will be used to at least give the perception that Democrats are tough and can be trusted to keep Americans safe. Many Democrats and many here at DU will be disgusted by the very notion, but there will be many Americans who will choose to vote for Democrats based upon that perception. I don't think it will help Democrats to win big, especially as big as if the economy greatly improves.

Democrats play by a set of self imposed rules that restricts what they allow themselves to do. Republicans have no restrictions and play to win and laugh at the Democrats' rules and will use those rules against them at every turn. We don't like that and are horrified by their actions and say they're not playing fair, but then they're not and have never claimed to be fair. Their goal is to win.