WBRZ - Baton Rouge

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama says he will use his State of the Union address to outline an agenda to create jobs now and boost American competitiveness over the long term.

In an online video released to supporters Saturday, Obama says the economy will be the main topic of the speech, a nod to how important that issue is to the country's standing and his own.

Obama says he will also speak about ways to reduce the national debt and cooperate with Republicans during the primetime address before a joint session of Congress.

The president will be speaking to a Congress changed both by Republican wins in the November election and the attempted assassination of one of their own, Democratic Rep. Gabrielle Giffords of Arizona.