After he finished his address, Obama will have to wait until after labor day to deliver a prime-time acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina until that time, he had to rely on the often hostile news coverage and paid advertising to get the message out. It makes State of the Union address both a great opportunity for any President who is running for another term and one of the best advantages the incumbent enjoyed a top challenger.
Gap height with his challengers could not be more extensive. In addition to the television debate (when he got beat by the other candidates), the leading Republican Mitt Romney has his campaign visitors get on the bus, Deli, gyms, Church school space drafty and barn. The largest audience on a good day? Perhaps 1,000, but usually in the dozens. His clothes? Often jeans and an open collar. And privileges? Well, his son Tagg tweeted photos this month candidate crouched down bus tried duct tape closes the vent blows cold air on him.
This benefit is not unique to Obama, of course: since the television networks began to bring the annual address in prime time in 1965, seven Presidents have been enjoying it the edge over their challengers. Not all have been using a home-field advantage wisely. The President may not miss the opportunity as bad as George w. Bush in 2004. While he was speaking, the Democrats are stuck in New Hampshire, locked in a slugfest that inappropriate. But Bush gave one of the most forgotten all the addresses, full of clichés and remarkable only for its decision to talk about steroids in baseball. He was rewarded with a 4-point drop in approval rating, the worst decline in post-State Union that were recorded by Gallup President in an election year. Even in the middle of August the trappings, the President is expected to say something of substance and have an agenda to promote.