WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama is out of time to push a new legislative agenda, so for his final State of the Union address, he’ll look past Congress and look to the American people.
His aim is to define his presidency and legacy before others can do it for him.
Obama’s prime-time speech Tuesday won’t include the traditional list of proposals, new policies and appeals for new laws.
Instead, he’ll offer a broad overview of what he’s accomplished and what’s undone.
Aides say Obama will give his assessment of what the country looks like in 2016 and the direction he hopes it’ll take the next five, 10, 15 years into the future.
He’ll also try to give a burst of energy to initiatives he’s hoping to push past the finish line.