State Of The Union | featured news

Previewing key elements of his State of the Union address, President Barack Obama is announcing on Monday a series of initiatives aimed at calming some of the economic fears of struggling middle class families.

President Barack Obama's chief political adviser says the president will focus on job-creating plans in his State of the Union address Wednesday night.

Strategist David Axelrod says the White House takes only "cold comfort" from the fact that the president's stimulus program saved about 2 million jobs – given the millions lost in the deepest economic downturn in decades.

President Barack Obama will deliver his first State of the Union address on January 27 and his budget plan on February 1, setting the tone for a second year in office marked by a long list of economic and foreign policy challenges.

President Obama is cautioning job creation could move slowly as the nation recovers from an economic recession. He told CNN's "State of the Union" signs point to recovery, although creation of enough new jobs could be delayed until next year.