If No Deal is Struck, Four-in-Ten Say Let the Sequester Happen  —  Deficit Reduction: Focus Mostly on Spending But Keep Taxes in Mix  —  OVERVIEW  —  After a series of fiscal crises over the past few years, the public is not expressing a particular sense of urgency over the pending March 1 sequester deadline.

On issues, public is more aligned with Obama than GOP  —  SETTING A NATIONAL AGENDA: WHAT NEEDS TO GET DONE THIS YEAR?  —  In a USA TODAY/Pew Research Center Poll, Americans were asked how urgent it was for President Obama and Congress to pass major legislation on some top issues this year.

Americans aren't buying what GOP is selling  —  A new Bloomberg National Poll shows President Obama's approval rating reaching a three-year high and public approval of Republicans reaching a three-year low.  The same poll found that a plurality of Americans blame the congressional GOP, not Democrats, for “what's wrong in Washington.”

Former first lady Laura Bush asks to be removed from newly launched pro-gay marriage ad campaign  —  Former first lady Laura Bush is asking a pro-gay marriage group to remove her from a national television, newspaper and online advertising campaign that launched this week.