Great expectations for President Obama's second term?

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And back in this country President Obama will officially be sworn into the office.

In the blue room of the White House tomorrow and the reason by law it must happen on the twentieth of January but.

All the formal pomp and circumstance will take place on the west front of the capitol on Monday.

During the president's first inaugural nearly two million people attended the event but this time around it's expected the crowds will be a bit smaller.

With about 700000 people braving the chilly temperatures in the nation's capital.

For the president's team lots of excitement for the inauguration with this -- being dubbed a national day of service.

The president volunteering to help paint a mural and local elementary school and joining us now -- -- also is.

And hydration committee member and former Obama White House spokesman welcome great to have you here.

Thanks very animated and let's talk more about this national day of service and why the president feels it's very important.

To tie this to his inauguration.

Well you know sorry is a little bit hard to hear -- we're kicking off the inaugural.

Activities today with the national day of service this is a tradition that.

The president established during the last inaugural but he like future presidents to carry on.

As people are participating across the country in all fifty states doing things like repairing schools.

Making care packages for service members that's I mean the vice president's doing today we've obviously seen a great turnout here.

On the National -- I think it's an appropriate start to the inaugural celebration.

Will.

As for the not usual celebration as I understand that this time around there's a more subdued tone to the festivities.

And that you've scaled back on some of the events can you tell us why.

Well we've actually seen an incredible outpouring of support second inaugurals are typically a little bit smaller I think one of the differences.

Between this inaugural -- that people are participating in all fifty states you don't have to come to Washington DC to participate.

In the events but we did have 2800 applicants.

Applied for fifty spots representing each state.

In the parade in the Baltic it's like quickly so we have seen a good turnout.

For security and would just -- reasons -- -- all of the balls and the one site.

So that we didn't have to shut down the entire city of Washington DC we learned a little bit from.

The first inaugural but we're seen incredible amount of participation.

Already and in your community you could -- -- the national day of service at home today.

-- talk about.

The president's legacy in the second term in his first term he said he promised to cut the nation's debt in half.

Get comprehensive immigration reform and fix some of the political dysfunction.

That exists in Washington that didn't happen.

Is he now poised -- to focus on his legacy and go back to making good on his earlier promises.

Well I I think that if you look at the promises he laid out of the 2008 campaign.

And the war in Iraq and a responsible way he's done that.

To provide affordable healthcare to all Americans.

He's done that to reduce our dependence on foreign oil he's done that the change doesn't happen over night.

This is going to be an eight year endeavor to accomplish some of these things and so you've seen the agenda the laid out during the campaign pursuing comprehensive immigration.

Before reducing the deficit.

In a balanced way you'll hear more about that in the State of the Union Address and you saw that many of the supporters of this campaign are now organizing to put.

Their muscle behind a campaign to pass those initiatives.

So we can expect to see that he's gonna try to make good on cutting the -- nation's debt in half.

-- absolutely he's put forward a plan to reduce the nation's deficit.

But four trillion dollars in a balanced way that's a top priority.

Ads as he enters the year with this congress and I expect you'll hear more about it in the weeks ahead.

Well the president got some tough challenges of the gun debate goes on the debt ceiling fight is coming up and job creation.

Will we see a different leadership style in his second term.

Well I think one thing that that is clear this time around it's.

The American people.

Voted to reduce the deficit in a balanced way they've voted to pass a comprehensive immigration reform.

They support 90% of the American public supports universal background checks it's a one of the things that.

The president's campaign supporters are going to make sure -- that he is a mandate that every time to enact these changes that house Republicans are actually responsive.

To what the American people voted for and what the public opinion it's and I think you're gonna see a lot of ground support.

For these efforts in the weeks ahead.

Let me ask you one that quick question what about the big divide that still remains between the president and the Republicans.

Will he make -- effort to find some common ground.

Well I think the president certainly has done.

An outreach on on both sides of the aisle.

And on issue after issue he's been willing to put it.

Traditional Democratic Party orthodoxy.

Aside.

To pass things in a bipartisan way this new organizing for action ultimately is a bipartisan organization that seeks to gain support.

From both sides but the president is it going to abandon.

His four principles.

He's not going to reduce the deficit just on the backs.

Of the poorest citizens and -- nothing.

Of the wealthiest who's going to stand up for its principles it's gonna stand up.

For what the American people voted for.

But he certainly hopes to accomplish things in a bipartisan way and I think one of the great things about the inaugural its differences on certain policy issues.

Aside this is a nonpartisan event.

It's a civic event it's time for leaders of both parties to get together.

In a peaceful transition of power and we forget that -- too many countries around the world that doesn't happen.

Now India is a -- remarkable thing to witness of that peaceful transfer of power.

-- thank you so much for joining us today all the best enjoy your celebration.

Thanks for having me.

And --

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Great expectations for President Obama's second term?

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