Obama's First State of the Union Speech in Scheduling Limbo

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Obama's First State of the Union Speech in Scheduling Limbo

President Obama's first State of the Union address should be coming soon -- but exactly how soon is still anyone's guess.

The speech has already sparked protests for potential scheduling conflicts with TV's most popular programs. The White House has announced that the president won't deliver the address on the same night as the premiere of "Lost," relieving the legions of fans of the popular ABC series, which is scheduled to debut Feb. 2.

As of Tuesday, the White House still had not said when it will come, though a senior congressional leadership aide told Fox News that Obama is planning to speak in the week after the Super Bowl, Feb. 7.

Obama apparently is trying to give congressional Democrats more time to finish negotiations on a final health care bill, so he can tout it in his speech.

The House passed its version in November and the Senate on Christmas Eve. But negotiators are struggling to find common ground between the versions, which differ in how to pay for the entitlement program, among other sticking issues.

So if the address doesn't come in late January or early February, how late can it come?

"It can be delivered as late as the president chooses to deliver it," Brookings Institution presidential expert Stephen Hess said with a laugh, noting that there is no constitutional deadline.