With Obama's ratings close to an all-time low, the president should try to make this State of the Union speech a total game-changer, but he's probably going to be low-key.
Is it a solid and unified state or more like the state of disunion? There is little President Barack Obama can do to help the Democrats this year. He appears to be less popular and his value on the campaign trail has been severely limited, especially in the places that matter most for Democrats.
The State of the Union speech will pose economic arguments that Democrats hope will resonate with voters in races across the country. The White House seeks Americans' input.
That choice is between an America where all segments of the population have opportunities to improve their lot and one where prosperity is disproportionately enjoyed by a select few. In the run-up to the State of the Union, Obama has persistently sought to focus the nation's attention on trends of inequality and lower social mobility that he's pledging to address in his final years in office.
Back in 1837, President Jackson hosted an open house featuring a 1,400-pound block of cheese. On January 29th, with a nod to history (and maybe the TV show the West Wing), White House officials will take to social media for a day long 'open house' to answer your questions.