Obama urges political partnership

In the president’s speech he has given an optimistic assessment of the country's well-being in a State of the Union address, urging his country to seize a 'Sputnik moment'.

The speech - which marks the halfway point of the leader's term in office - contained an emphasis on efforts to create jobs and cut the national debt.

Sections of the address also urged the two main political parties to work together in order to ensure economic recovery.

"At stake is whether new jobs and industries take root in this country, or somewhere else," he said.

"It's whether the hard work and industry of our people is rewarded. It's whether we sustain the leadership that has made America not just a place on a map, but a light to the world.

"We are poised for progress. Two years after the worst recession most of us have ever known, the stock market has come roaring back.

"Corporate profits are up. The economy is growing again.

"New laws will only pass with support from Democrats and Republicans."

The President went on to evoke the spirit of the mid-twentieth century space race between the US and the former USSR.

He said: "Half a century ago, when the Soviets beat us into space with the launch of a satellite called Sputnik¸ we had no idea how we'd beat them to the moon.

"The science wasn't there yet. Nasa didn't even exist.

"But after investing in better research and education, we didn't just surpass the Soviets; we unleashed a wave of innovation that created new industries and millions of new jobs.

"This is our generation's Sputnik moment."