On November 4, 2008 before an enthusiastic crowd of more than 100, 000 people who had gathered at Chicago’s Grant Park, Mr. Obama, speaking on the two wars, the economic crisis, jobs, and health care told Americans “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you — we as a people will get there.” (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1108/15294_Page2.html). In Wednesday night’s State of the Union Address the President’s number one priority will be to convince the American people that he has not lost sight of the vision he shared with them nor the promise he made on that unseasonably warm Chicago night a little over one year ago.
Obama’s approval rating
A Gallup poll taken just one day ahead of the President’s first State of Union Address, 48% of those polled say they approve of the President’s job performance and 47% disapprove. (http://www.gallup.com/home.aspx). Evidence that the American people are growing impatient with this new administration and, more importantly that Mr. Obama is falling short of the expectations of a growing number of voters. While some political pundits also point to the Massachusetts Senate Race, where a republican was elected to a seat that had been held by a democrat for nearly six decades, as another indicator of the nation‘s overwhelming disapproval of the President‘s job performance, others believe that history tells us that approval ratings change dramatically over the course of a Presidential term. Other than Ronald Regan and Harry Truman, no other President’s approval rating has dipped below 52% at this period in their terms. (http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/12/08/obamas-percent-approval-lowest-president-point/) And most agree that with the exception of President Clinton‘s 1998 address, poll numbers are not likely to show any dramatic increase or decrease following Mr. Obama’s address on Wednesday night.
(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/22/ AR2010012202278.html?hpid=topnews)
Economy
If the President hopes to reverse the tide and regain the unprecedented support and confidence of the American people who elected him by an overwhelming 53% to 46% majority over Senator McCain just a little over one year ago, then he will have to give the economy top billing in his address on Wednesday.(http://www.cnn.com/ELECTION /2008) CBO is projecting that this year‘s deficit will be approximately $1.3 trillion or 9.2% Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Although this figure represents a slight improvement over last year‘s deficit numbers, the projection does little to ease the concerns of the American people. In an attempt to address those concerns, Mr. Obama is expected to unveil his plan to establish a panel that will work to find ways to not only reduce the annual budget deficits but to also slow or reverse the national debt overall. The President’s panel will likely face many of the same obstacles faced by a group from the Senate who attempted to form a similar bi-partisan commission to address the debt situation by proposing tax increases and various spending cuts. Mr. Obama’s proposal will also explore spending cuts (but excludes defense spending), tax increases, and a three-year freeze on domestic programs. Wednesday’s address will provide a broad overview of the President’s proposal. Details will be included in the 2011 Budget that is scheduled for release on Monday.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/27/us/politics/27budget.html
Jobs
With the loss of approximately 7 million jobs since 2007 and the unemployment rate holding steady at 10%, the President will also need to provide the American people some sort of reassurance that he can deliver on the promise he made on election night back in 2008. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/ 35085854/ns/politics-white_house/ The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that during the month of December, 43 states and the District of Columbia recorded increases in their unemployment rates, 4 states reported decreases in their rates, and 3 states reported that the rates remained unchanged. The bureau also reported that non-farm payroll employment figures increased in 11 states and the District of Columbia, but decreased in 39 states. (http://www.bls.gov/)
Obama’s tone on banking – populism
In Wednesday's address, the President will seek to ease the nation's concerns about the banking system and reaffirm the stability of America's financial system. Mr. Obama will appeal to the banking industry to increase lending and for consumers to feel confident in borrowing again. This he believes is the key to economic recovery. If the current lending trends continue, then recovery will not be possible. He will lay out his plan to create a lending fund designed to assist consumers who want to purchase cars, homes, or even finance education. The plan will also include efforts to assist small business and U.S. farmers. In a move directed at easing taxpayer discomfort with bailing out the banking industry, the President will ask Congress to introduce legislation to designed to reform what he calls "our outdated regulatory system"(http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/remarks-of-president-barack-obama-address-to-joint-session-of-congress/).
In Wednesday night's address, the President has the monumental task of getting the American people to understand and support his plans for recovery and financial stability. More importantly, Mr. Obama has the seemingly impossible task of inspiring members of the legislature, both Republican and Democrat, to commit to focusing on doing what is required to ensure America's success rather than focusing on the next election cycle.
