Abbreviated Pundit Round-up: Polls and politics

From Washington Post
New Bloomberg poll shows Obama at 3-yr job approval high, 55%
' @HotlineJosh via UberSocial for BlackBerry Bloomberg:

Obama's positive standing with the public provides him with political leverage as Americans assess blame for any furloughs, disruption of government services or damage to the economy if the spending cuts aren't averted. The repercussions also could help shape the battleground for the 2014 midterm congressional elections.

Beyond the fiscal showdown, the poll shows traction for the president on immigration, with 47 percent approval of his handling of the issue compared with 38 percent disapproval. Fifty-three percent of Americans support a path to citizenship while 18 percent back a process toward legal status for illegal residents already in the country if certain conditions are met.

Feelings toward Obama are the most positive since December 2009, with 56 percent of Americans holding a favorable opinion of the president and 40 percent a negative one. The Democratic Party he leads is viewed favorably by 47 percent and unfavorably by 43 percent.

Public views of congressional Republicans' record places an added burden on them in the standoff over automatic spending cuts. Americans by 43 percent to 34 percent say they are more to blame than Obama and Democrats for 'what's gone wrong' in Washington. Still, another 23 percent aren't sure which side bears more responsibility.

So Chuck Hagel will be confirmed, the WH will ultimately win on the sequester (goes into effect, to be rescinded later) and the press will still fail to focus on what a disaster the GOP is.

Chris Cillizza:

And that maxim is why Republicans in Congress would do well to avoid a confrontation with President Obama over the sequester.

Here's why ' in 3 very simple steps:

1. Regular people have no idea what the sequester is right now and, even once it kicks in, aren't likely to pay all that close of attention to it unless they are directly affected by it.
2. Obama is popular with the American public
3. Congress is not.

Maggie Haberman:

After his electoral wipeout in November ' and motivated by years of resentment that's spilling over ' Rove's credibility within his own party is at an all-time low.

More polling and politics below the fold.