Obama says re-election gives him "middle-class mandate"

U.S. President Barack Obama addresses his first news conference since his reelection, at the White House in Washington November 14, 2012.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday said his re-election gives him a mandate to help the American middle class, but he does not presume his opponents agree with all of his ideas.

"I've got one mandate. I've got a mandate to help middle class families," Obama said in a wide-ranging news conference a week after winning re-election November 6.

The president spoke two days ahead of his first talks with congressional leaders to avoid a jump off the 'fiscal cliff' of $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts looming at year's end.

(Reporting By Kim Dixon; Editing by Doina Chiacu)