The watchdog organization PolitiFact.com, which evaluates the veracity of politicians' statements, has tracked 506 specific promises Mr. Obama  made during his victorious presidential campaign three years ago and concluded that he has fulfilled 151, or 30 percent. Add the campaign pledges on which Mr. Obama has compromised to get part of what he wanted, and his "mission accomplished" tally still rises to just 39 percent.

Nonetheless, the president is telling supporters that he has worked three-fifths of the way through a checklist of initiatives that he keeps in his desk, making the pitch that he needs to be re-elected to finish what he started.

"We're through about 60 percent of [the list], which isn't bad for three years," Mr. Obama told a crowd at a fundraiser in Denver on Tuesday night. "So we know change is possible. But here's the thing. There are a lot of people who are still hurting, and there's still a lot more work to do. And so that other 40 percent that is not done, I'm going to need you because I need five more years. I need five more years to get it done."