Obama reminds America it has a choice in 2012 Barack Obama began his State of the Union on Tuesday night by reminding Congress that Osama bin Laden is dead, which is where he ended the speech as well. It was a good sandwich for what can best be described as the president's biggest speech yet of the 2012 general election. To be fair to Mr Obama, that was the best he could do with it. American politics is about the long haul. No occasion better illustrates this than a first-term president addressing a mostly opposition-controlled legislature a few months before he seeks re-election. Very little Mr Obama put forward on Tuesday night will see the light of day in 2012 even though on each he promised "I will sign it tomorrow." Given that its contents were strikingly similar to his 2011 state of the union address - "Built to Last" was this year's theme against "Winning the Future" last year - it will probably form the bulk of his speech this time next year were he re-elected. Yet for the dwindling number of Americans who tune into big Washington occasions, it served as a good reminder what a formidable speaker Mr Obama can be - and a what a clear electoral choice is unfolding in 2012. The headline theme was about fairness. No one needed to be reminded of the fact that Mitt Romney only paid 13.9 per cent in taxes last year, the details of which helpfully appeared earlier in the day. But it helped that Warren Buffett's secretary, who pays higher taxes than her boss, was sitting with Michelle Obama as a guest of the First Lady. Almost every detail in her husband's lengthy address was fashioned with the campaign in mind. While being careful to wrap his words in red, white and blue, Mr Obama gave a populist speech aimed at the 99 per cent versus the one per cent, even if he did not directly cite that catchphrase. His delivery was ebullient and at times carried a mild swagger. Analysts will pore over some of the proposals. Among the obvious campaign lines were the 30 per cent floor on millionaires" income tax, a return of comprehensive immigration reform, and new units to tackle mortgage fraud and China's abusive trade practices. The latter two can be set up on Mr Obama's executive authority. Only a looming election can explain why he would propose them in the fourth year of his term. Nothing else Mr Obama put forward is likely to get very far. The real measure of the speech will come in the polls as the general election looms. "An America built to last" offered a blueprint to revitalise America's competitiveness - with familiar calls to rekindle manufacturing, rebuild infrastructure and upgrade US education. It also presented the unapologetic image of an activist federal government that is at odds with the sentiments of a large chunk of American opinion. Mr Obama is calculating that he can convince a majority of American voters they still need active government. Whether he succeeds will mostly depend on events that are beyond his control. Of these, the fates of the Republican nomination process and the modest US recovery loom the largest. If nothing else, however, Mr Obama made sure that those who were listening understood they will have a clear choice.