PREVIEW: In State of the Union, Obama to focus on "fair" economy

Jan 23, 2012, 23:56 GMT

Washington - US President Barack Obama is step up to the podium in Congress Tuesday evening with the outsized task of convincing a sceptical American public to again put its trust in his economic policies.

Against the backdrop of looming presidential and legislative elections, Obama will give his third State of the Union address at 9 pm Tuesday (0200 GMT Wednesday) at the US Capitol to a chamber packed with lawmakers and invited guests.

Though the White House has not released precise details of the annual speech and it was still being written, it will 'bookend' a speech Obama gave in Kansas late last year that focussed on producing a fair economy in which the middle class can get ahead.

'This is a make or break moment for the middle class,' Obama said in a video preview of the speech released on his campaign website.

'We can go in two directions, one is toward less opportunity and less fairness or we can fight for where I think we need to go building an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few,' he said.

In a 'blueprint' for the economy, Obama will focus on US manufacturing, energy, skills for American workers and American values, White House spokesman Jay Carney said.

Obama is to leave Wednesday on a three-day, five-state tour to sell his plan, but the White House has rejected characterizations that it is purely aimed at securing his reelection in November.

'We cannot afford to waste those 10 months on campaigning alone - that there are things we can and must do to grow the economy, create jobs, ensure that everyone gets a fair shot and that everyone is held accountable for what they do; that if we all play by the same rules, then we all get ahead together,' Carney said Monday.

But it could be a tough sell - the most recent job approval ratings for Obama released by pollster Gallup show 46 per cent of Americans disapprove of his performance, placing him among the lowest such ratings for US presidents in the third year of their presidencies.

Beyond convincing the American people, Obama must also win over a Congress that has been intent on halting his efforts over the last year.

Calls in last year's State of the Union address to unite beyond the political ideology of his centre-left Democrats and centre-right Republicans quickly faded. The rhetoric was welcomed in the wake of an assassination attempt in January 2010 on Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, but the spirit of conciliation disappeared as lawmakers got down to business on addressing the nation's debt and budget woes.

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives has clashed with Obama over budget issues repeatedly over the last year, leading to several near government shutdowns, and the body is unlikely to hand Obama any legislative victories as lawmakers also stand for election in November.

In one likely highlight of the evening, however, Giffords will make a final appearance in the chamber before resigning her seat to focus on her recovery, while her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, sits alongside First Lady Michelle Obama.