Obama holds edge over Romney in general election matchup, poll finds  —  Boosted by improved public confidence in his economic stewardship, President Obama for the first time holds a clear edge over Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney in a hypothetical general-election matchup, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Religious Caucus Causes Protest in Las Vegas  —  LAS VEGAS — A special Saturday night Republican caucus here intended to accommodate Orthodox Jews who could not vote before sundown became the scene of controversy and confrontation after caucusgoers were told that to be admitted they had to sign …

Things Are Not O.K.  —  In a better world — specifically, a world with a better policy elite — a good jobs report would be cause for unalloyed celebration.  In the world we actually inhabit, however, every silver lining comes with a cloud.  Friday's report was, in fact, much better than expected …

Hill Poll: Voters willing to see US attack Iran over nuclear weapons  —  Nearly half of likely voters think the United States should be willing to use military force to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, according to this week's The Hill Poll.  —  Forty-nine percent said military force …

Greece takes step closer to default  —  By Kerin Hope in Athens, Alex Barker in Brussels and Quentin Peel in Munich  —  Lucas Papademos, the Greek premier, failed to make party leaders accept harsh terms in return for a second €130bn bail-out, pushing Athens closer to a disorderly default as early as next month.

Super Bowl ads: Pete Hoekstra's hits a nerve  —  The campaign of former Rep. Peter Hoekstra for U.S. Senate explained a racially charged Super Bowl advertisement they developed - complete with an Asian actress speaking in broken English - as a reflection of China's increasingly competitive education system.

Economic Gains, Questions on Romney Boost Obama's Prospects for November  —  Mitt Romney has solidified his position for the Republican nomination but lost ground in the main event, with improved economic indicators and questions about Romney's wealth and taxes lifting Barack Obama to a head …

The Citizens United catastrophe  —  We have seen the world created by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and it doesn't work.  Oh, yes, it works nicely for the wealthiest and most powerful people in the country, especially if they want to shroud their efforts to influence politics behind shell corporations.

The race issue rises again  —  The issue of race and American politics, never far beneath the surface during Barack Obama's historic 2008 campaign, is making a loud, overt and surprisingly early appearance in the 2012 presidential race.  —  And no one knows — least of all Obama himself …

Deal Is Closer for a U.S. Plan on Mortgage Relief  —  With a deadline looming on Monday for state officials to sign onto a landmark multibillion-dollar settlement to address foreclosure abuses, the Obama administration is close to winning support from a crucial state that would significantly expand the breadth of the deal.

Contraception rule respects religion  —  One of the key benefits of the 2010 health care law is that many preventive services are now free for most Americans with insurance.  Vaccinations for children, cancer screenings for adults and wellness visits for seniors are all now covered in most plans …