NBC poll: 80 percent say killing bin Laden was right

>>> we're debuting a new nbc news poll on this broadcast tonight, and it shows an overwhelming majority of americans support the decision to kill, not capture, osama bin laden . there's also news about the president, jobs, the economy. with us from washington is our political director, chief white house correspondent chuck todd . good evening.

>> reporter: good evening. in moments like last week, presidents do acquire political capital . it's no different for obama, but he didn't acquire a lot. here is his ajob approval. 52%. he was at 49% last month. he got a big spike among americans with his approval rating on foreign policy , 57%, all-time high in the poll, but look at the numbers on the handling of the economy. just 37% approve of that. 58% disapprove. you talk to many analysts in both parties and they say there are two reasons for that, gas price s they're high, and it's having a drag on the president. the president got a bump on the character attributes. over 50% say he has strong leadership qualities, he's got the ability to handle a crisis, he's firm and decisive, all the things a president wants going into election, but he's under that in achieving his goals, uniting the country, or sharing his views on the issue. only 20% agree with the statement that it's time to pull all troops out now, that the killing of bin laden means the threat is gone. 72% agree with the president's position that says, yes, bin laden is dead, but the threat has not gone away and troops may have to stay in afghanistan. and finally, there's a big loser in the poll, the government of pakistan. 72% do not believe the government there. they believe somehow the government knew bin laden was in their country.

>> speak of our election year. we're going to do a special on where all the republican candidates stand.

>> newt gingrich is going to run for president. he let it leak that he's going to announce it on stwiter and facebook on wednesday. he had been testing the waters, but he's probably the most well known person in the race. we'll see. he's going to have a rough row to go as we tested in our own poll.

>> chuck todd in the d.c. bureau. thanks, as always.