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Legacy, political calendar frame Obama's State of the Union address

 
Published on Feb 12, 2013
4:37 PM
In this photo taken on Jan 24, 2012, President Barack Obama delivers his State of the Union address on Capitol Hill in Washington. Mr Obama will give his State of the Union address on Tuesday (Wednesday 10am Singapore time) with one eye on the political calendar as time ticks down on his bid to advance an agenda that will help shape his White House legacy. -- PHOTO: AP

WASHINGTON (REUTERS) - President Barack Obama will give his State of the Union address on Tuesday (Wednesday 10am Singapore time) with one eye on the political calendar as time ticks down on his bid to advance an agenda that will help shape his White House legacy.

Just three months after winning re-election on Nov. 6, the Democratic president has a narrow window to push through policy priorities on the economy, immigration reform, and gun control.

Analysts say he has roughly a year before Washington turns its attention to the 2014 mid-term elections, which could sweep more Republicans into Congress and accelerate the subsequent "lame duck" status that defines presidents who are not running for office again.

"He basically has a year for major legislative accomplishments because after the first year you get into the mid-term elections, which will partially be a referendum on his presidency," said Ms Michele Swers, an associate professor of American government at Georgetown University.

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