BREAKING: Obama: 'The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong'

During his State of the Union Address, President Obama said the nation is ready to "turn the page" from years of hardship, and used the speech to promote an ambitious program of "middle class economics" in the face of new Republican majorities in Congress. "America, for all that we've endured; for all the grit and hard work required to come back; for all the tasks that lie ahead, know this: The shadow of crisis has passed, and the State of the Union is strong," he said. FOR MORE ON THIS STORY, GO TO:   USATODAY.COM