"The state of our union is getting stronger," President Barack Obama said. "We've come back too far to turn back now."

Less than nine months and two weeks to the presidential election, President Obama delivered the State of the Union address, defending his record and setting his tone for 2012.

"I intend to fight obstruction with action, andI  will oppose any effort to return to the very same policies that brought on this economic crisis in the first place."

And quick to respond were the Republicans, including Wisconsin U.S. Senator Ron Johnson.

"The man who said he would unite us has purposely sought to divide us by pitting one group of Americans against another," Johnson charged.

The president addressed Congress for more than an hour Tuesday night. He laid out new proposals while defending his first term in office.

Defending his policies in what could be called a campaign-style address to Congress, President Obama laid out new proposals on the economy, energy, and education.

"I think about the America within our reach -- a country that leads the world in educating its people, a country that attracts high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs, a future where we're in control of our own energy."

Specifically mentioning key battleground states throughout, the president used Milwaukee-based Master Lock as an example of bringing jobs back to the U.S.

He launched his proposals to change the tax code not only for individuals but businesses, too.

"It's time to stop rewarding businesses that ship jobs overseas and start rewarding companies that create jobs right here in America. Send me these tax reforms, and I will sign them right away," he vowed.

Addressing education, the president urged more local control at the state and district level.

"Give them the resources to keep good teachers on the job and reward the best ones, and in return grant schools flexibility to teach with creativity and passion and stop teaching to the test and to replace teachers who just aren't helping kids learn."

The president also hit on what will become key campaign issues -- his push for energy tax cuts, immigration and passing the payroll tax cuts.

Against the backdrop of a heated Republican race and an impending election this year, the message was congressional unity. At the same time, President Obama said he would act if Congress didn't.

Just after the State of the Union address, the Republicans responded. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniel's presented the official response.

"When President Obama claims the state of our union is anything but grave, he must know in his heart that is not true. The president did not cause the economic and fiscal crisis that continues in America tonight, but he was elected on a promise to fix them, and he cannot claim that the last three years have made things anything but worse," Governor Daniels said.

"In the year ahead, Americans will have a choice. Do we want to follow President Obama down his path of bigger government, unsustainable debt, higher taxes, and energy costs, a government takeover of health care and anemic economic growth, or do we want to put our nation toward a path of true prosperity and economic security?" Senator Johnson asked. "That prosperity can only be achieved by growing our economy through the private sector."

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