BALTIMORE — President Barack Obama delivered a message to House Democrats gathered for their annual retreat:  

“Democrats will win in November and we will have a Democratic president succeeding me,” he said on Thursday.  

“The reason I can say that with confidence is because we focus on the things that matter in the lives of American people,” Obama added.  

Just a few hours after Vice President Joseph R. Biden told the same audience that Democrats would reclaim a majority in the House this year, Obama used what is likely his last formal speech to the House Democratic Caucus to focus on the 2016 campaign.  

“The press has been focused on debates and divisions that they can drum up within the primary and within our party,” Obama said, noting he’s not worried about Democrats staying united. “Our trajectory is clear.”  

Republicans “may have some stuff to work out,” Obama added. Later, he made a remark that played into the divisions the media has highlighted.  

“We’re not going to strengthen our leadership around the world by allowing politicians to insult Muslims,” Obama said in an apparent reference to Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.  

The president said Republicans have offered “some slogans,” while Democrats have actual policies that would help working families, such as raising the minimum wage, and making college more affordable.  

“If we stay true to those principles,” Obama said, “our party is not just going to have a good year, America will have a  good year. And we’ll have more good years after that.”  

Contact McPherson at lindseymcpherson@cqrollcall.com and follow her on Twitter at @lindsemcpherson.

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