Obama to stress job creation

President Barack Obama goes before Congress tonight to argue for his new plan to urgently create jobs for the millions of out-of-work Americans, a way forward that some opposition Republicans have rejected before hearing the details and members of the Democratic base view as too timid.

The speech to a joint session of the legislature, where Republicans control the House of Representatives, was expected to chart a middle ground, part of Obama’s continuing strategy to win the backing of independent voters who hold the key to his hopes for re-election next year.