On the same day the government reported that the number of Americans living in poverty had reached an all-time high, a White House official launched a spirited defense of President Obama's efforts to help lower-income people.
Melody Barnes, the president's chief domestic policy adviser, said Obama has pursued a wide range of policies intended to boost poorer people and give them more opportunities.
In particular, she singled out the healthcare reform law as a key achievement.
"Million and millions of low-income people ... are already benefiting from the healthcare reform law this president fought for and signed into law against almost insurmountable odds," she said at a forum hosted by the administration.
She also touted efforts to expand education and housing opportunities for low-income people as part of a robust resume the president has built in helping the lower class.
"I can go on and on and on," she said. "Not enough, but significant, significant investments by this president to make sure we are serving low-income Americans and urban America.
"We need all hands on deck if this economy is going to succeed," she added.
On Tuesday, the Census Bureau reported that 46.2 million people were living below the poverty line in 2010, the highest number ever recorded. The percentage of the population living in poverty also rose to 15.1 percent, the highest level since 1993.
