President Barack Obama will throw his weight behind legislative bids to reform healthcare and cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions on Tuesday in his fourth White House press conference since taking office.
Obama, who has focused his first five months as president on trying to end the recession, is likely to discuss his plans to create jobs and stem unemployment, which economists expect will hit 10 percent in coming months.
The president will also be watched closely for further changes in his tone toward Iran following a contested presidential election that has sparked massive unrest.
Obama has sharpened his criticism of the Iranian government for cracking down on demonstrators while trying to avoid the appearance of meddling.
"The president wants to ensure that he doesn't become a political football that the regime uses against anybody that seeks justice in Iran," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told NBC's "Today" show.
"I absolutely think we've seen the beginnings of change in Iran," he added.
On Monday Gibbs told reporters the president would touch on the economy, Iran, healthcare and energy at his news conference, which begins at 12:30 p.m. EDT (1630 GMT).
Legislation on two of Obama's signature issues — covering 46 million Americans who do not have health insurance and capping carbon dioxide pollution from major industries — is currently moving through the U.S. Congress.
But both bills face obstacles. Lawmakers are worried about the $1 trillion healthcare reform is expected to cost over the next 10 years, while the climate bill's chances of passage, though more positive in the House of Representatives, are less clear in the Senate.
Obama hopes to shore up support on both issues while addressing international crises including Iran and tension on the Korean peninsula.
He is scheduled to make an opening statement at the news conference, which will be held in the White House press room instead of the originally planned Rose Garden because of humidity, and then take questions for about an hour.
The news conference comes as Obama, who remains personally popular with a majority of the American public, has seen polls showing declining satisfaction with his policies.
A newly released Washington Post/ABC News poll showed only about half of Americans believe the president's $787 billion stimulus package will boost the economy.
Later in the afternoon Obama is scheduled to meet with Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
