Obama pens holiday message to supporters boasting of 'PROGRESS'

President Obama wrote supporters on Thursday with a holiday message reminding them of "progress" made in the past year.

The president, who capped off a tumultuous year in Washington on Wednesday, wrote supporters of Organizing for America (OFA) — his political arm within the Democratic National Committee — to acclaim the accomplishments of his time in office.

"The reforms that we fought long and hard for are not talking points," Obama wrote. "And their effects don't change based on the whims of politicians in Washington. They are achievements that have a real and meaningful impact on the lives of Americans around the country. They are achievements that would not have been possible without you. PROGRESS localizes them — and brings them to life."

Obama directed readers to a website with a variety of statistics that are meant to illustrate the impact of his and congressional Democrats' work to benefit localities. The "PROGRESS" page for the swing state of Ohio, for instance, claims 122,000 jobs saved or created by Obama's stimulus, and almost 230,000 small businesses eligible for tax credits under the president's healthcare law.

The e-mail is meant to boost the spirits of some of the president's most ardent supporters on the heels of a successful lame-duck Congress for the White House. It's also meant to reassure supporters in the wake of Republicans' Nov. 2 victories that will put them in control of the House in just two weeks.

"In the coming days, as we gather with our loved ones at dinner tables around the nation, let's pass them on. Let's celebrate the spirit of service and responsibility that brought them to fruition. And let's steady ourselves with the resolve to continue pressing forward," Obama said. "Because the coming year will hold new challenges — battles that have yet to be fought, and stories of progress that have yet to be written."