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State of the Union: Obama takes message to key states State of the Union: Obama takes message to key states
(40 minutes later)
 
US President Barack Obama is beginning a three-day swing-state tour, as he seeks to hammer home his State of the Union speech in election battlegrounds.US President Barack Obama is beginning a three-day swing-state tour, as he seeks to hammer home his State of the Union speech in election battlegrounds.
Mr Obama will visit manufacturing companies, a university and give two high-profile television interviews.Mr Obama will visit manufacturing companies, a university and give two high-profile television interviews.
The visits to Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona aim to spread the message Mr Obama outlined on Tuesday.The visits to Iowa, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada and Arizona aim to spread the message Mr Obama outlined on Tuesday.
His speech to Congress renewed a call for higher taxes on the wealthy, something Republicans strongly oppose.His speech to Congress renewed a call for higher taxes on the wealthy, something Republicans strongly oppose.
The US economy is on the mend, but unemployment remains high at 8.5%.The US economy is on the mend, but unemployment remains high at 8.5%.
Correspondents say Mr Obama's itinerary for the next couple of of days closely matches the re-election strategy sketched out by his campaign team.Correspondents say Mr Obama's itinerary for the next couple of of days closely matches the re-election strategy sketched out by his campaign team.
One state in particular - Michigan - features in each of five "paths to victory" imagined by Obama re-election strategists.One state in particular - Michigan - features in each of five "paths to victory" imagined by Obama re-election strategists.
'Reclaim American values''Reclaim American values'
Mr Obama's speech on Tuesday in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives was delivered with an eye on November's presidential election, when he will seek another four years in office.Mr Obama's speech on Tuesday in the Republican-dominated House of Representatives was delivered with an eye on November's presidential election, when he will seek another four years in office.
He said: "We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by.He said: "We can either settle for a country where a shrinking number of people do really well, while a growing number of Americans barely get by.
"Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules."Or we can restore an economy where everyone gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everyone plays by the same set of rules.
"What's at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them.""What's at stake are not Democratic values or Republican values, but American values. We have to reclaim them."
Mr Obama said the economy was bouncing back from the 2007-09 recession.Mr Obama said the economy was bouncing back from the 2007-09 recession.
He sounded a warning to his conservative opponents, as he added: "I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place."He sounded a warning to his conservative opponents, as he added: "I intend to fight obstruction with action, and I will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place."
Mr Obama also made a renewed call for his Buffett Rule - a principle that millionaires should not pay a lower tax rate than typical workers.Mr Obama also made a renewed call for his Buffett Rule - a principle that millionaires should not pay a lower tax rate than typical workers.
The idea is named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who famously complained that his secretary pays a higher rate of tax than he does.The idea is named after billionaire investor Warren Buffett, who famously complained that his secretary pays a higher rate of tax than he does.
Mr Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, watched the speech alongside First Lady Michelle Obama from the gallery.Mr Buffett's secretary, Debbie Bosanek, watched the speech alongside First Lady Michelle Obama from the gallery.
Pledging no tax increases for those earning under $250,000 (£160,000), Mr Obama said: "If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30% in taxes."Pledging no tax increases for those earning under $250,000 (£160,000), Mr Obama said: "If you make more than $1 million a year, you should not pay less than 30% in taxes."
"Now, you can call this class warfare all you want," he added. "But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense.""Now, you can call this class warfare all you want," he added. "But asking a billionaire to pay at least as much as his secretary in taxes? Most Americans would call that common sense."
Republicans have repeatedly rejected Mr Obama's call for higher taxes on the wealthy and accuse him of resorting to class warfare to get elected again.Republicans have repeatedly rejected Mr Obama's call for higher taxes on the wealthy and accuse him of resorting to class warfare to get elected again.
Mr Obama also proposed:Mr Obama also proposed:
  • tax reforms to make it less attractive for US companies to transfer jobs overseas
  • allowing homeowners with privately held mortgages to refinance at lower interest rates
  • a new trade enforcement unit dedicated to deterring unfair practices by rival economies, such as China.
  • tax reforms to make it less attractive for US companies to transfer jobs overseas
  • allowing homeowners with privately held mortgages to refinance at lower interest rates
  • a new trade enforcement unit dedicated to deterring unfair practices by rival economies, such as China.
A wave of unity swept over the chamber as Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot by a lone gunman in Arizona shortly before the last state of the union, attended during her last week serving as a congresswoman.A wave of unity swept over the chamber as Democratic Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot by a lone gunman in Arizona shortly before the last state of the union, attended during her last week serving as a congresswoman.
Ms Giffords, who announced on Sunday that she would resign to focus on her recovery, was embraced by Mr Obama, amid rousing cheers.Ms Giffords, who announced on Sunday that she would resign to focus on her recovery, was embraced by Mr Obama, amid rousing cheers.
'Pro-poverty''Pro-poverty'
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, delivering the Republican Party's response to Mr Obama's speech, called it "pro-poverty".Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, delivering the Republican Party's response to Mr Obama's speech, called it "pro-poverty".
He said: "No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favour with some Americans by castigating others."He said: "No feature of the Obama presidency has been sadder than its constant efforts to divide us, to curry favour with some Americans by castigating others."
The address put the political spotlight firmly back on the Democratic president, after months of focus on the Republican candidates vying to challenge him for the White House.The address put the political spotlight firmly back on the Democratic president, after months of focus on the Republican candidates vying to challenge him for the White House.
Earlier, one of those contenders, Mitt Romney, was forced by political pressure to release his tax returns.Earlier, one of those contenders, Mitt Romney, was forced by political pressure to release his tax returns.
The forms revealed the private equity tycoon earned nearly $22m in 2010 and paid an effective tax rate of about 14%, a lower rate than most other Americans pay.The forms revealed the private equity tycoon earned nearly $22m in 2010 and paid an effective tax rate of about 14%, a lower rate than most other Americans pay.
Opinion polls show Mr Obama's approval numbers languishing beneath 50%, with most Americans disapproving of how he has handled the economy.Opinion polls show Mr Obama's approval numbers languishing beneath 50%, with most Americans disapproving of how he has handled the economy.
More than 13 million people are out of work and government debt stands at a record high of $15.2 trillion, up from $10.6 trillion when he took office.More than 13 million people are out of work and government debt stands at a record high of $15.2 trillion, up from $10.6 trillion when he took office.
However, surveys also show that Congress is far less popular than Mr Obama, with many blaming Republicans more for the gridlock in Washington.However, surveys also show that Congress is far less popular than Mr Obama, with many blaming Republicans more for the gridlock in Washington.
Partisan warfare on Capitol Hill almost shut down the federal government three times last year.Partisan warfare on Capitol Hill almost shut down the federal government three times last year.