Local Democrats and Republicans react to State of the Union
Local leaders are also reacting to the President's speech. YNN Natalia Martinez spoke with representatives from both sides of the aisle.
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ERIE COUNTY, N.Y. — President Obama's second State of the Union set an agenda for his next four years in office.
Len Lenihan, the former Erie County Democratic Chair, said he wasn't surprised about the issues that took center stage.
"Jobs and the economy are the number one issue on everybody's plate,” said Lenihan.
Lenihan said this State of the Union was not a partisan speech, and that the public is turned off by bickering.
"He understands what it's going to take to get something done. He's going to have to get the Republicans on board. It's going to be important."
But local Republican Victor Martucci says the President has not done enough to reach across party lines.
"When the President doesn't have to face the electorate again, I don't know what's going to motivate him to change,” said Martucci, Erie County Republican Party.
Martucci also had a different take on the President's positive outlook on the economy.
"That's debatable. We have a public debt of $16.4 trillion dollars. That's $52,000 for every man, woman and child in this country."
While millions of people listened to the Presidents words, their eyes will now focus on the actions he takes over the next four years.