State Of The Union: What Obama Must Do.WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama steps to the podium in the Capitol building on Tuesday night for his third State of the Union address, with the front center of the economy and the public's mind and popularity at its lowest.
With a national audience and a surprisingly volatile year for the Republican presidential primary, experts expect Obama to use the annual speech to boost his campaign to win another four years in office.
"The State of the Union address is a combination of political discourse and political discourse, because the two are bound together by our system," said Duke University political scientist David Rohde.
Obama saw some of the populist themes that will touch on Tuesday night - income inequality, including the role of government in the playing field for the middle class.
But the effectiveness of the annual address depends on several things, according to experts, including delivery, tone and resonance.
Here are five things that veteran political observers say Obama should do when he starts talking to 21 hours:
Stay above the fray
Obama should offer a contrast to the din of campaign ads in the last Republican presidential primary, policy experts said.
"All he has to do is to look presidential," said Hofstra University Presidential scholar Meena Bose, despite the attacks of the GOP would be challengers.
"What Obama as president wants to do is rise above charges," said Bose. "The president wants to be on the offensive, not defensive."
The stress of the economic gains
The economy may have helped Obama three years ago, but it has now become a sore point - a target for enemies Republicans, a source of pessimism for Americans, according to polls, and a question that the president might want to avoid .
But Rohde said: "It has taken over the dead."
The spokesman for the White House Jay Carney says the economy will be the focus of speech.
Lynn Vavreck, a political scientist at UCLA, said Obama should focus on the growth of 3 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the fall of one-half percent unemployment rate, from 9 percent to 8 5 percent in recent months.
"The winning message is not on the level of unemployment," said Vavreck. "This is the trend line."
Obama needs to follow this line, Rohde said: "It's getting better, it's getting better faster than before recently, and it is expected he will continue to s' improve it.”
Engage Congress
Obama has made no secret of the fact that he intended to run against Congress this year.
It is planned to include a sharper edge in the face legislators, particularly the GOP House. But it must also show that wants to work with Congress to create jobs.
"The president must call upon them to bear the burden of leadership and policy development," Bose said.
Show that it is at work
Polls show Americans are tired of Washington because he cannot do something. Obama must show that it is, nevertheless, to work hard.
"The overriding message of this address will be the skill and get things done," said Bose.
"You really see the advantages of incumbency," she said, as he talks about steps he will take, without the Congress.
Drive Home themes
Obama said he will present an economic model, offering new initiatives on manufacturing jobs, energy and training. But it will also revisit the measures Congress has stalled.
"President Obama really needs to show he is in control of the situation, he has a clear plan and it is up to Congress to react," said Bose.
After the speech, Obama head out of an official five-state tour for three days to push his agenda.
Vavreck said the speech to clarify his belief that the economy is recovering ". Now that things are better, do not change horses midstream”
With a national audience and a surprisingly volatile year for the Republican presidential primary, experts expect Obama to use the annual speech to boost his campaign to win another four years in office.
"The State of the Union address is a combination of political discourse and political discourse, because the two are bound together by our system," said Duke University political scientist David Rohde.
Obama saw some of the populist themes that will touch on Tuesday night - income inequality, including the role of government in the playing field for the middle class.
But the effectiveness of the annual address depends on several things, according to experts, including delivery, tone and resonance.
Here are five things that veteran political observers say Obama should do when he starts talking to 21 hours:
Stay above the fray
Obama should offer a contrast to the din of campaign ads in the last Republican presidential primary, policy experts said.
"All he has to do is to look presidential," said Hofstra University Presidential scholar Meena Bose, despite the attacks of the GOP would be challengers.
"What Obama as president wants to do is rise above charges," said Bose. "The president wants to be on the offensive, not defensive."
The stress of the economic gains
The economy may have helped Obama three years ago, but it has now become a sore point - a target for enemies Republicans, a source of pessimism for Americans, according to polls, and a question that the president might want to avoid .
But Rohde said: "It has taken over the dead."
The spokesman for the White House Jay Carney says the economy will be the focus of speech.
Lynn Vavreck, a political scientist at UCLA, said Obama should focus on the growth of 3 percent of GDP in the fourth quarter of 2011 and the fall of one-half percent unemployment rate, from 9 percent to 8 5 percent in recent months.
"The winning message is not on the level of unemployment," said Vavreck. "This is the trend line."
Obama needs to follow this line, Rohde said: "It's getting better, it's getting better faster than before recently, and it is expected he will continue to s' improve it.”
Engage Congress
Obama has made no secret of the fact that he intended to run against Congress this year.
It is planned to include a sharper edge in the face legislators, particularly the GOP House. But it must also show that wants to work with Congress to create jobs.
"The president must call upon them to bear the burden of leadership and policy development," Bose said.
Show that it is at work
Polls show Americans are tired of Washington because he cannot do something. Obama must show that it is, nevertheless, to work hard.
"The overriding message of this address will be the skill and get things done," said Bose.
"You really see the advantages of incumbency," she said, as he talks about steps he will take, without the Congress.
Drive Home themes
Obama said he will present an economic model, offering new initiatives on manufacturing jobs, energy and training. But it will also revisit the measures Congress has stalled.
"President Obama really needs to show he is in control of the situation, he has a clear plan and it is up to Congress to react," said Bose.
After the speech, Obama head out of an official five-state tour for three days to push his agenda.
Vavreck said the speech to clarify his belief that the economy is recovering ". Now that things are better, do not change horses midstream”
