Why Did Pres. Obama Hold His First Press Conference in Three Months on Super Tuesday?

By Michael A. Memoli, Los Angeles Times

March 5, 2012, 12:33 p.m.

President Obama will hold his first news conference in more than three months on Tuesday, the latest curious bit of counterprogramming by the White House tied to the Republican race for president.

Tuesday, of course, is Super Tuesday in the GOP's nomination fight -- the biggest day of voting yet. Ten states hold caucuses and primaries with more than 400 delegates at stake, or more than a third of the total a candidate needs to clinch the nomination.

Last week when Michigan Republicans were casting their votes, Obama spoke to a United Auto Workers gathering in Washington. He has also made trips to Nevada and Florida within days of those state's nominating contests. He also held a video town hall with Iowa Democrats on the night of the Hawkeye State's leadoff caucuses.

Obama's last solo news conference was in November from Hawaii, where he was hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation conference (APEC).