WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday used a severe understatement to address the tragedy at the US consulate in Benghazi — describing the deaths of four Americans there as "not optimal.''
Obama appeared on "The Daily Show," where host Jon Stewart alluded to starkly conflicting statements from the government about what led to the deadly security breach that claimed the lives of US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three American staffers.
"Is part of the investigation helping the communication between these divisions? . . . Because I would say, even you would admit, it was not the optimal response, at least to the American people," Stewart asked.
Reuters
'When four Americans get killed it's not optimal' —President Obama yesterday on 'The Daily Show'
"Here's what I'll say," Obama responded. "When four Americans get killed, it's not optimal. We're going to fix it. All of it.
"The government is a big operation and any given time, something screws up. And you make sure that you find out what's broken and you fix it," Obama continued.
The exchange came as Obama is struggling to regain his footing in the polls, which has slipped since his widely panned performance in the first presidential debate.
A seven-day nationwide Gallup survey shows Republican challenger Mitt Romney ahead of Obama, 52 percent to 45 percent, among likely voters.
The poll includes interviews with voters the day after the second debate, where the issue of security in Libya prior to the attack was a major flashpoint.
It's sure to figure prominently when they clash again Monday in Boca Raton, Fla., in a debate that focuses on foreign policy.
"Every piece of information that we get, as we got it, we laid it out to the American people. The picture eventually gets fully filled in," Obama told Stewart.
Members of Obama's administration have come under fire for saying in the days following the deadly Sept. 11 incident that angry protests over a film belittling the prophet Mohammed were the likely cause of the siege instead of describing it as a well-armed, planned terror attack, which they now say it was.
"The American people need to know exactly how I make decisions when it comes to war, peace, security and protecting Americans. And they will continue to get that over the next four years of my presidency," Obama added.
He was in New York last night to attend the annual Al Smith Dinner, where he broke bread with Romney and their host, Timothy Cardinal Dolan.
Meanwhile, the Romney camp, in a sign of optimism in North Carolina — a state Obama won in 2008 — said it's shifting some of its staff resources to other states.
One poll shows Romney has recently doubled his lead in the swing state. The Rassmussen poll, which shows Romney ahead just two points nationally, 49-47, has him up 52-46 in the Tar Heel State.
A week ago, the same poll showed Romney ahead by three points.
Rassmussen also showed Obama clinging to a one-point lead in Ohio, while a Susquehanna poll showed him trailing Romney by four in Pennsylvania, which was once thought to be safely in the president's corner.
geoff.earle@nypost.com
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