Two trips to cities hurting under the economic meltdown and a prime-time news conference are signs that Obama and his advisers are worried about a looming Senate vote on the stimulus bill, which failed to gather meaningful Republican support during rare weekend debate. The question-and-answer sessions will allow Obama to go directly to voters for grass-roots backing of his plans. Both trips were added to Obama's schedule as difficulties with the legislation on Capitol Hill increased. Originally, aides had insisted his time would be better spent in Washington to shepherd the bill rather than traveling the more traditional presidential route around the country, pressuring lawmakers from his bully pulpit. The $827 billion Senate version of the plan was expected to pass the Senate on Tuesday. However, it must be reconciled with the House version, which totaled $820 billion in spending and tax cuts. With Senate and House negotiators preparing to deal, Obama is likely to push for a bill on his desk for his signature by mid-month. "The president's top man on the economy is the president," Larry Summers, the chairman of the White House National Economic Council, said on "Fox News Sunday." Summers added: "He listens to advice from all of us, and he sets his direction." For his first direct pitch to citizens, Obama scheduled a town hall meeting in Elkhart, Ind. He was to return to Washington for the news conference Monday night. On Tuesday he plans to visit Fort Myers, Fla., an area hit hard by foreclosures. "Americans across this country are struggling, and they are watching to see if we're equal to the task before us. Let's show them that we are. And let's do whatever it takes to keep the promise of America alive in our time," Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address. The Elkhart-Goshen region in northern Indiana saw its unemployment rate soar to 15.3 percent in December, up a whopping 10.6 percentage points from December 2007. The region has been bruised by layoffs in the recreational vehicle industry. Hundreds of workers have lost their jobs at RV makers such as Monaco Coach Corp., Keystone RV Co. and Pilgrim International. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said the meeting would give the president a chance to hear Americans' concerns about the bill, which was set to have a key vote in the Senate on Monday afternoon. "I think this is another chance for the president to talk directly to the American people about what he thinks is at stake," Gibbs said. "Watching millions lose their jobs, and having in front of Congress -- and hopefully in front of him soon -- a plan to save or create millions more jobs and get people back to work, putting money in people's pockets, getting help for state and local governments so they don't have to lay off firefighters or teachers or police officers."
Obama is a true strategist. Instead of arguing and begging with the Republicans on to agree on the stimulus plan, he hit the streets towards the common people to gain indirect support for his plans. Here are the gems of this tactics.
1. More publicity will be generated by the mass media thus increasing his popularity as a common people's defender during his visits aka established further personal human touch to the people in solving the crisis.
2. The impression that the Republican politicians as the stumbling block for the average Americans to get out of the painful recession will certainly be conceived. Support for them will be eroded slowerly.
Obama seeks grass-roots support for stimulus
Monday February 9, 3:43 am ET
By Mark S. Smith, Associated Press Writer
Obama travels to Indiana, Florida to make his case for the economic stimulus package he wants
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will face a barrage of questions from ordinary Americans and skeptical reporters on his plans to reinvigorate the economy with a massive stimulus bill and additional billions in bailout money for the financial markets.
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