Obama to Offer ‘Accomodation’ on Contraception Rule  —  With the White House under fire for its new rule requiring employers including religious organizations to offer health insurance that fully covers birth control coverage, ABC News has learned that later today the White House …

Mitt Romney's Struggles Take Republican Angst To New Heights … Barack Obama , Mitt Romney , Republican Presidential Primary , Rick Santorum , Cpac , Elections 2012 , Newt Gingrich , Rick Perry , Video , Politics News  —  WASHINGTON — The angst within the Republican Party …

Rep. Spencer Bachus faces insider-trading investigation  —  The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws, according to individuals familiar with the case.

Pentagon to ease restrictions on women in some combat roles  —  View Photo Gallery — Military officials say a ban on women serving in front-line infantry and armor units as well as special operations forces such as the Navy SEALs will be maintained.  View photos of elite women soldiers in Afghanistan.

Is 2012 Slipping Away From the GOP?  —  For a long time, I was confident that Republican voters would oust Barack Obama in 2012, hold the House and, in all likelihood, take the Senate.  Obama is a weak incumbent, who has been chronically unpopular since early in his term.

The Crowd Pleaser  —  At first glance, President Obama and Mitt Romney share some similar traits.  Both Harvard Law School grads are smart and analytical.  Both are emotionally reserved rather than touchy-feely.  Both are traditionalist in their family and personal lives.

Foreclosure Deal to Spur U.S. Home Seizures  —  The $25 billion settlement with banks over foreclosure abuses may result in a wave of home seizures, inflicting short-term pain on delinquent U.S. borrowers while making a long-term housing recovery more likely.

Romney ‘glitter bomber’ fired from internship  —  DENVER — The college student accused of “glitter bombing” Mitt Romney after the Colorado caucuses has been fired from his unpaid internship with state Senate Democrats.  —  Police say 20-year-old Peter Smith threw glitter at Romney …

Fox Pundit Tells CPAC Crowd That Rachel Maddow Is ‘The Best Argument In Favor Of Her Parents Using Contraception’  —  In the “closed circuit world on the right,” MSNBC's Rachel Maddow is often the subject of ugly denigrations.  Whether it's being mocked for her sexual orientation, her name …

Poll: Joe Kennedy III has huge lead in U.S. Rep race  —  Joseph P. Kennedy III's famous family ties have handed him a huge early lead in the race to succeed retiring U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, a new UMass Lowell/Boston Herald poll reveals.  —  Kennedy, the son of former U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II …

Gay marriage bill introduced in Illinois House  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — A year after gay couples gained the option of civil unions in Illinois, some lawmakers are beginning a push to authorize same-sex marriages.  —  Three legislators filed what they call the “Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act” on Wednesday.

Evangelical group holds firm on ‘pro-life’ link to EPA rule  —  A green evangelical group won't bow to conservative anti-abortion-rights leaders or Republicans who are pressuring them to stop casting support for new EPA pollution rules as a “pro-life” position.

Romney previews CPAC speech  —  On Fox News last night, Mitt gave a brief outline of what he'll say during his 12:55 PM speech at CPAC today.  —  The two most important things.  —  a.  He'll talk about his record in Massachusetts — something he hasn't been trumpeting from every rooftop.

Santorum: Combat concerns  —  Rick Santorum, in an interview with CNN's John King a bit ago, was asked whether he thinks it's a good idea or a bad idea for the Pentagon to relax some of the rules about women taking frontline roles in combat, “perhaps opening the door to a broader role for, ultimately, women in combat.”