what are the experts saying about that? is that going to be effective? >> reporter: an associate professor at george mason university outside of washington says it might work. he says, in part because no matter how unpopular the president is and his signature issues, health care reform, congress is even less popular. it basically gave republicans an opening in the first of the year, he says other presidents have done similar regrouping when they needed to regain the initiative. hirs harris interesting. congress not only -- >> what you see in the second year of the obama presidency is something a lot like what you saw in the third year of the clinton presidency or the fourth year of the bush presidency when this white house becomes much more aggressive in trying to shape the public debate, much more visible. >> reporter: fansworth says it is a more partisan time and with the senate so evenly divided, there's no downside to opposing