Obama to visit NC, Atlanta after State of Union

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama will travel to two Southern states after his State of the Union address on Tuesday.

It's a tradition for presidents to launch a post-speech tour to pitch their proposals to the public.

A stop in Asheville, N.C., on Wednesday will be followed by a visit Thursday to Atlanta.

The White House hasn't said what Obama will do in either city. But in recent weeks Obama has left Washington to rally the public behind his plans for immigration reform and gun control.

Both Georgia and North Carolina were among the states Obama lost in November's election.