We're in the fourth year of a first term president. That means Tuesday night's State of the Union Address is expected to be little more than a campaign speech. Our Washington Bureau reporter Erin Billups has more.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. -- With all eyes on him for his State of the Union Address, President Obama is expected to make the most of the political opportunity, centering the address around rebuilding the economy.

"On Tuesday night, I'm going to talk about how we'll get there, I'm going to lay out a blueprint for an economy that's built to last," Obama said.

He plans to flip the narrative sown heavily by republicans. That he's to blame for the country's current financial mess. Instead, outlining recovery efforts underway and calling on the very unpopular Congress to stop standing in the way of progress.

"While his political opposition is secretly hoping for the economy to fail and to struggle, he's been able to keep it going. I think that it's very important tomorrow that he be able to demonstrate to the American public that we are a great country turning the corner and that he's the leader to take us there,” said Matthew Angle, Democratic Strategist of the Lone Star Project.

It’s an opportunity afforded only to a sitting president. Obama appearing presidential while the GOP battles the divided image projected from a heated presidential primary.
And republicans warn he should use the time wisely.

“If he's just campaigning and there's no real policies that are going to get us out of the mess we're in, I think people should hold that against him," said Timothy Chapman, Heritage Action for America COO.

Even though the White House has tried to counter criticism that Tuesday's address is little more than a stump speech, if you go to the Obama campaign website, the State of the Union has top billing.

"I hope you watch and I hope you'll use the opportunity to join other supporters of this campaign in your community as you do," Obama said.
Republicans, meanwhile, are banking on growing public fatigue with political rhetoric.

Chapman said, "To the extent that there's a disconnect every single time he goes out and talks and people are actually feeling the pinch at home and feeling the hurt of an economy that's down. I think that his ability to influence people is severely diminished."