With his poll numbers — and those of his health care initiative — declining, President Barack Obama is planning several public appearances in the coming days to tout his work on the economy and sell his health care reform agenda.
White House officials believes Obama can take ample credit for avoiding an economic catastrophe and have stepped up efforts to broadcast to the public what they see as a success story.
He will hold two events Tuesday where he will emphasize his work on the economy, starting with an appearance at a General Motors plant outside Youngstown, Ohio. Obama will highlight that the factory is rehiring workers to produce additional fuel-efficient vehicles.
Sales of fuel-efficient cars were spurred by the Cash for Clunkers program Obama backed and by the stimulus bill he and Democrats worked to pass early this year.
Obama will also appear before AFL-CIO workers in Pittsburgh later Tuesday for remarks that will touch on health care but focus mainly on the economy. Following his appearance Monday on Wall Street, it will be his second speech in two days devoted to the economy.
The president Thursday will hold a health reform rally — open to the general public — in College Park, Md. Obama also plans to appear on "Meet the Press," "Face the Nation" and "This Week" as well as CNN and Univision on Sunday to talk about health care. He had no plans to appear on any Fox News programs.
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