President Obama is amping up the pressure on Congress to reach a deal to avoid a plunge over the fiscal cliff, adding a meeting with small business owners from across the country to today's schedule and planning a trip to Pennsylvania on Friday.

And Wednesday, Obama will host an event at the White House with "middle class Americans who would be impacted if Congress fails to act to extend the middle class tax cuts." They were recruited by senior advisor David Plouffe who last week sent an email asking respondents to share their stories on how a tax increase would affect them. It's a strategy Obama has employed before to cajole lawmakers. 

On Friday, Obama will travel to Montgomery County, Pennsylvania to continue making his case for extending Bush-era tax cuts for those making less than $250,000. He'll visit a business that the White House says depends on middle class consumers during the holiday season, and could be affected by a tax hike.

He'll tour and deliver remarks at The Rodon Group manufacturing facility in Hatfield. The Rodon Group is the sole American manufacturer for K’NEX Brands, a construction toy company whose products include Tinkertoy, K’NEX Building Sets and Angry Bird Building Sets. The Rodon Group and K’NEX Brands, both third-generation family businesses, employ over 150 people at their Hatfield facilities.