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“It used to be that people had vague concerns about the deficit. They knew there was one, but it didn’t seem to really matter,” Republican Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty told the Hill. “Now average people outside of politics are zoomed in on it. You go to the grocery store or the dry cleaners or some place and average people, they make comments about the debt, the deficit, and spending.”

Maybe they’re reacting to stories like this one, out this morning on the Reuters wire: “Schwarzenegger Declares California Fiscal Emergency.” ...