President Obama gives his State of the Union speech on Tuesday night, and this weeks message will likely be a small preview of what is to come. The President talks about competing economically with the rest of the world, and creating jobs through increased exporting, referencing the recent visit of China’s President Hu and trade deals with China and India. The President, according to the New York Times, will be looking to continue to appeal to the center of the political divide by emphasizing cooperation with Republicans and deficit reduction. But he will also emphasize needed investment in education, infrastructure, and technology. (Sounds a bit like some of the priorities outlined by Governor Patrick in advance of his budget submission.) The President has been on a political upswing, with an uptick in favorability, especially amongst independents.

The President is finding his political balance and showing that those who were counting him out were counting too soon. It will be an important speech for President Obama Tuesday, and I see him retaking the political center from the Republicans, who are just beginning to struggle with their promised budget cuts in the House. Looks to me like the Republican House takeover will be the best thing that could have happened to the President. Lets just see how folks will react to the Republican study group proposal on the budget. Lets just see how the Republican leadership will react to the Republican Study Group budget proposal. The Republicans are about to be exposed in the House on budget issues, as they can no longer hide behind campaign platitudes. That exposure will push the President towards re-election in 2012.