Rove: Shutdown Helps Obama

The Hill reports:

As a possible government shutdown looms, one of the GOP's top political strategists reminded Republicans Thursday of the positive impact the shutdowns of the mid-'90s had on the political fortunes of then-President Clinton.

In a polling memo posted on his website, Republican strategist Karl Rove wrote, "The shutdowns helped inprove Clinton's political standing, boosting both his approval rating and perceptions of him as a strong leader."

Rove referenced a Gallup poll that showed Clinton's approval rating in the mid-40s before the first shutdown, but jumping to 54 percent by the time government reopened in November of 1995.