WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama implored Americans to turn away from cynicism and fear, in a final State of the Union address that at times represented a rebuke of the bitter campaign to succeed him.
"The future we want -- opportunity and security for our families; a rising standard of living and a sustainable, peaceful planet for our kids -- all that is within our reach," Mr Obama said. "But it will only happen if we work together. It will only happen if we can have rational, constructive debates. It will only happen if we fix our politics."
Mr Obama and his aides viewed Tuesday's State of the Union address as perhaps the last, best chance to burnish his legacy before a national audience -- and convince Americans they should vote to keep a Democrat in the White House. His speech came in the shadow of events in the Persian Gulf, where Iranian forces captured and detained 10 US sailors earlier on Tuesday, prompting renewed Republican criticism of Mr Obama's foreign policy.
Mr Obama made no mention of the incident. Administration officials said they expected the imminent release of the sailors.