Obama says 'shadow of crisis has passed'

President Barack Obama on Tuesday declared America has turned the page on years of war and economic hardship, in a populist-tinged State of the Union address that set up the battle to succeed him. Emboldened by a stronger economy and better approval ratings, Obama called for a new chapter in US history that ushers in a fairer economy with a better shake for the middle class. He heralded the "growing economy, shrinking deficits, bustling industry, and booming energy production" that hav