White House Confident Tax Deal is Imminent

En route to North Carolina, Deputy Press Sec Burton tells reporters Obama sees Bush cuts negotiations wrapping up in the next few days.

Pool 2

We are in Winston-Salem. Bill Burton gaggled on AF One:

On tax cuts; negotiators have been making progress, and the president is confident within the next couple of days they’ll find a way to extend tax cuts for middle class families … the test for him is whether it strengthens the economy

On UI extension: president will not sign just an extension of the Bush tax cuts. He mentioned a variety of other cuts – tax breaks for tuition, eitc – but wouldn’t say whether just getting the UI extension without the others would be enough.

On today’s speech: the president will talk about a sputnik moment, investment in education, but promised only to roll out specifics in the weeks ahead. Seemed to suggest it might be part of the state of the union, in response to a question specifically about that.

On the call with President Hu: said it took this long to arrange that call because the two leaders are busy guys.

On the debt summit, suggested by two members of congress this weekend: he has long been focused on this issue and is open to ideas.

Asked whether the president is in NC because the WH sees it as a 2012 swing state: it was chosen because there is a great community college there. Noted that he cannot control how reporters analyze the politics.

Also: Sen. Richard Burr and Rep. Brad Miller are on board AF One.
The president worked the rope line at the tarmac here, and posed for at least one picture.
Wheels down, 11:06 a.m.