President Obama's State of the Union address Tuesday evening will include specific details on how to return jobs to the middle-class, David Plouffe, one of Obama's  top advisers, said today.

Plouffe told a gathering of mayors in Washington, D.C.,  that Obama would  lay out plans on energy, manufacturing, education and other "reforms."

He used words such as "concrete ideas" and "blueprint" to describe the portion of Obama's speech that would zero in on the middle class. Obama would be "putting some flesh on the bones there," he said.

"He's working on it as we speak," Plouffe added.

But Plouffe also asked his audience at the mayors conference to help the administration out. "Seriously,  if you've got ideas, send them our way," Plouffe said.

Plouffe's message wasn't political, and the former campaign manager repeatedly downplayed the presidential election that is dominating the headlines. He brushed aside a reporter afterward who asked about Thursday night's Republican debate.

"The election is still 10 long months away," he said in his speech.

Plouffe addressed a sprawling ballroom at the Capital Hilton Hotel, although it was only about half-full, with fewer than 100 people (mayors and their staffs) listening. Antonio Villaraigosa, the mayor of Los Angeles, slipped and said before Plouffe arrived that he was waiting for "Mr. Fluff."

"Plouffe," he corrected himself as the room filled with laughter. "I didn't say that. That was a misnomer."