The US President’s State of the Union address is the spotlight of political activities in the US in early 2016. It highlights the agenda for the administration and the Democratic Party in the upcoming Presidential Election.

Motto of the 2008 campaign recalled

In his final State of the Union address, President Obama recalled the motto “Change” he used in his campaign in 2008. He said the US has changed dramatically in the last 7 years. The US managed to overcome the 2007-2009 global economic crisis and achieved a GDP growth rate of 2% this year. This is one of Obama’s major achievements which enabled the US to increase its interest rate after 7 years maintaining at zero. 14 million jobs were created and the unemployment rate reduced from 10% in 2009 to approximately 5% at present. More American people have enjoyed health insurance and the number of children attending school has increased.

In his address, Obama pointed out the US’s future goals, which are being pursued by Democratic candidates. He said the US need to reduce the impact of money on politics. He criticized the political system for favoring the rich and powerful people. He called on the US Congress to approve the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, shut down the US military prison in the Guantanamo Bay, remove sanctions against Cuba, promote a political deal on the Syrian issue, implement the Paris agreement on climate change and accelerate the realization of the Iran nuclear deal which was signed in July, 2015.

Indirectly attacking Republican candidates

President Barak Obama didn’t directly show his support for Democratic candidates in his State of the Union address but strongly knocked Republican candidates, especially Senator Ted Cruz and billionaire Donald Trump. He indirectly criticized Donald Trump’s controversial statement against Muslim migrants. He said when politicians insult Muslims or when a Muslim mosque was destroyed, it doesn’t make the US safer. The US President said insulting Muslims hurt the United States and "betrayed" its identity.  He said: "It’s just wrong. It diminishes us in the eyes of the world. It makes it harder to achieve our goals."

Regarding Senator Ted Cruz’s call for strengthening attacks against the Islamic State, despite the fates of civilians, President Barak Obama said more than tough talk or calls to carpet bomb civilians, which may work as a TV sound bite, it doesn’t pass muster on the world stage.

Obama rejected viewpoints of many Republican politicians that migrants cause economic difficulties for the US. He said “each time, there have been those who told us to fear the future; who claimed we could slam the brakes on change…. And each time, we overcame those fears”.

Positive public response

President Barack Obama's final State of the Union address was met with deeply positive reviews, matching the best ratings for any of his State of the Union addresses, according to a CNN/ORC instant poll of those who watched the speech.

Overall, 53% had a "very positive" reaction to the President's speech, matching the highest rating of his presidency reached following his 2013 address. Most speech watchers say the policies Obama is proposing would move the country in the right direction (68%), a smaller group feel they would take the nation the wrong way (29%). Those figures are not far off the mark Obama set last year, when 72% thought the policies he proposed would move the nation in the right direction, the highest mark of his presidency.

Obama’s State of the Union address is a spotlight in the US in early 2016. The US President took full use of his address to communicate the agenda of the administration and the Democratic Party ahead of the upcoming Presidential election which created advantages for Democratic candidates.