President Sets Off on Sales Mission on Immigration

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama and his allies, confronting a buildup of GOP criticism, are seeking to sell the president's executive actions on immigration as good politics and good policy.

The effort is crucial to Obama as he tries to dampen Republican cries to undo the administrative measures and to win the trust of immigrants and get them to participate. Obama is starting with a rally Friday at the Las Vegas high school where he launched his 2013 drive for an overhaul of the immigration system.

The White House is enlisting the aid of immigrant advocacy groups and hoping to keep Democrats united, with some exceptions, behind a single message.