President Obama's State of the Union address - reaction

President Obama has delivered his first State of the Union address, stating his main focus will be job creation and fixing the economy.

Mr Obama acknowledged that the government bail-out of banks had been deeply unpopular, but said it had been necessary to stabilise the financial system.

In a speech that was at times combative, Mr Obama said he would not leave the huge budget deficit he had inherited to be tackled by another generation.

He warned Congress that it must change the way it does business to restore the trust of the American people.

click Listen to President Obama's address

How did activists on both sides respond?

The BBC's Fergus Nicoll is in St Louis, Missouri, and speaks to James Knowles, President of the Missouri Young Republicans and Jack Coatar, Executive Director of the St Louis City Democratic Central Committee. James Knowles is the first voice.

Fergus Nicoll attended what Americans call a "watch party" at the Royale Bar in St Louis.

He asked a few of the people drinking at the bar, starting with Erica, what they made of the president's speech.

Many African-Americans voted Mr Obama into office hoping he would make a real difference to their lives.

His candidacy created an unprecedented excitement in black districts of St Louis, but there are parts of this city that are suffering from almost unbelievable deprivation.

Amid one of the most run-down parts of town, Fergus Nicoll finds a church that is helping the local community rebuild lives ruined by the economic downturn.

First broadcast 28 January 2010