President Barack Obama will confront a politically divided Congress with a demand to expand economic mobility in the US, asserting in his State of the Union policy address Tuesday night that he will take action on his own if lawmakers fail to help shrink the income gap between the rich and the poor.
The speech comes at a time when Obama is struggling to generate second-term momentum ahead of November's election when control of Congress will be at stake.
Obama's broad themes, described by the White House as opportunity, action, and optimism may find some support among Republicans, who also have picked up the inequality message in recent months. But with the election campaign looming, there's little indication the president will win over Republicans with his policy prescriptions, including a renewed push to increase the minimum wage and expand access to early childhood education.
With its grand traditions and huge prime-time television audience, the State of the Union offers Obama an opportunity to start fresh after a year where his legislative agenda stalled, his signature health care law floundered and his approval rating tumbled. The president has cast 2014 as a "year of action" but has yet to show the public how he'll ensure that's more than just an empty promise.
Previewing the president's remarks, White House spokesman Jay Carney said, "He'll certainly aim high. Presidents ought to aim high."
Obama has been tinkering with the speech in his typical fashion, writing out notes long-hand on yellow legal pads and scribbling edits on drafts typed out by his speechwriting team. The White House has heavily promoted the address on social media sites like Instagram, posting photos of Obama working in the Oval Office with lead speechwriter Cody Keenan. Aides are also working on an interactive version of the speech that will run online and feature charts and statistics about the president's proposals as he's speaking.
While each of Obama's speeches to Congress has centered on the economy, the challenges have changed as the US has moved away from the deep recession. Corporate profits and the financial markets have reached record highs, but many Americans are struggling with long-term unemployment and stagnant salaries.
Increasing the minimum wage and expanding early childhood education programs are both seen by the White House as ways to increase economic opportunity for low- and middle-income Americans.
