He said Obama “will spend a decent amount of time” contrasting his economic views with Boehner’s, which the White House argues would return the country to failed policies that led to a financial crisis and recession.

Boehner’s office seems delighted with the White House strategy, which it framed Tuesday as a desperate and “unprecedented” move by an administration worried it is on the verge of seeing both chambers of Congress go GOP.

“You can sense the panic setting in,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel wrote in an e-mail.