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Returning to Washington with fewer numbers and increased doubt about their direction in the new Congress, Democrats are pushing President Obama to pursue a more aggressive economic agenda that lays the groundwork for a political rebound in 2016 by focusing sharply on helping the middle class.

In interviews and public speeches since voters delivered an electoral gut-check in November, Democrats have offered a range of ideas for how the president should approach his final two years in office, ranging from specific policy proposals to suggestions for changing the way he works with both parties in Congress.

Democrats worry they lost ground to Republicans due to the absence of a clear economic message that balances claiming credit for progress since the 2008 recession with a call to expand benefits for middle-class families that still need help. Many lawmakers have concluded the presidential bully pulpit will be critical in framing the debate.

"In the minds of a lot of voters, economic fairness and the Democratic brand have in some ways separated, which is really tragic because that really is what we stand for," said Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), co-chairman of the House Progressive Caucus. "The president can help rebuild that brand."

Democrats acknowledge the need for Obama to show he can work with Congress' new Republican majorities, be it on tax reform, trade or the push to improve infrastructure that appears to be gaining steam.

But many, particularly those in the more progressive wing on the party, say the president needs to fiercely stand his ground on party priorities such as energy, healthcare and Wall Street reform.

"I think he knows where to draw the lines and he will," said Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio). "He'll have plenty of support here to do it."

Democrats hope the president will craft a more consistent and disciplined economic message than he did last year, when political pressures from the midterm election and a series of unexpected crises at home and abroad posed constant distractions.

"I think he really has to decide what's most important to him and the country, and then he's got to work very hard to put an edge on those issues," said George Miller, the just-retired veteran Democratic congressman from Martinez. "You can't just do that with a single speech. You can't just do that with a meeting or having a group of people to the White House. Every day you've got to put your long pants on and go to work."

Obama's relationship with his congressional allies has always been complicated, whether Democrats enjoyed significant majorities, as they did at the start of his first term, or after Republicans took over the House in the 2010 election.

Link:
Congressional Democrats have a list of resolutions for Obama