Mr Obama is the first sitting president to appear on the Comedy Central show, in an interview to air tonight .The appearance came six days before mid-term elections that could see the Democrats lose their grip on Congress. Mr Obama said: "We have moved forward an agenda that is making a difference in people's lives each and every day. Is it enough? No. And so I expect, and I think most Democrats out there expect, that people want to see more progress."
On the programme, Stewart challenged the president to answer why, two years after he won on a promise of hope and change, his fellow Democrats "seem to be running on 'Please, baby, one more chance"'.
"When I won and we started the transition and we looked at what was happening in the economy," the president replied, "a whole bunch of my political folks came up and said 'you know what? Enjoy this now because two years from now, folks are going to be frustrated.' And that is in fact what's happened."
Mr Obama then cited lingering high unemployment and the lagging housing market as reasons for that frustration. He also said Americans seemed unaware of some of the administration's achievements.
"What have you done that we don't know about?" Stewart asked. He quipped: "Are you planning a surprise party for us, filled with jobs and healthcare?"
Mr Obama replied that the Democrats had passed a government-sponsored health insurance programme for children and new regulations on credit cards. Republicans have spent this season campaigning on voters' discontent with Mr Obama and Democrats' stewardship of the economy, and polls suggest the party is poised to take control of the House of Representatives and weaken the Democrats' hold on the Senate. That scenario would dramatically curtail Mr Obama and the Democrats' ability to pass major legislation.
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart takes aim nightly at politicians of both parties, but its presenter leans to the left and much of the show's content targets apparent hypocrisy and bigotry among Republicans. The satirical show's audience also tends to be younger, and the president may be hoping to build enthusiasm among his base ahead of the vote, analysts say.
"You've got a constituency of younger voters that watch that show, and it's a good place to go and reach them," White House spokesman Robert Gibbs told reporters on Tuesday."The president hasn't been shy about going to the places where people are getting their information and trying to make his case."
The president has been on the show four times previously - during the 2008 presidential campaign and during his earlier tenure in the US Senate. So, is this appearance a desperate measure or not? Is he begging for understanding and votes. To give him his due, he has made appearances on other talk shows perioically.
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