Mayor Bill de Blasio is defending his recent spate of travel beyond the borders of New York City.

De Blasio, a first-term Democrat, has visited Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin in recent weeks to discuss the need to fight income inequality.

He is going to Washington on Tuesday to unveil his progressive agenda for national leaders. And then he flies to California for a pair of speeches.

His recent national focus has stirred questions in New York that his focus is not on the voters who elected him not even 18 months ago.

De Blasio said Monday that he can help New York by changing the national political conversation.

He also stressed that he trying to secure more federal funding for the city.

(AP)