Bush to deliver fifth State of the Union address

US President George Bush is delivering his fifth State of the Union address in the early hours of tomorrow after arguably the worst year of his presidency, looking to reinvigorate confidence in his leadership and the US role in the world.

The speech gives the president an opportunity to lay out his agenda in this mid-term election year directly to Congress and the American people. He will try to ease anxiety about continuing US troop deaths in Iraq and the high price of fuel and health care that are dampening Americans’ view of the economy.