In the runup to U.S. President Barack Obama's third State of the Union address, the White House emphasized how different the speech would be. Mr. Obama would eschew the usual catalog of initiatives that was dismissed as "small ball" by his predecessor, and focus instead on a vision for the nation. The result was an ambitious speech that implored his nation to embrace the change that would "win the future." Compelling though that vision may be, realizing it will require a bipartisan commitment that may remain beyond the administration's grasp.

Typically, the State of the Union speech is a congratulatory piece that lauds the achievements of the last 12 months while rallying the troops — legislators from the president's own party and his supporters — for more of the same. In the aftermath of the "shellacking" (Mr. Obama's own word) the Democrats received in the November mid-term elections, that course was unlikely. Even though Mr. Obama could claim plenty of wins in the last congressional session, the president had to shift the terms of political engagement, to rise above the partisan fray and reframe the national debate.

The first task was (ironically) easier in the aftermath of the shooting of Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. As a gesture of reconciliation, Democrats and Republicans mingled in the audience rather than sitting on opposing sides of the aisle as they usually do. In his speech, Mr. Obama highlighted Republican accomplishments and ideas, showing his willingness to reach out.