Bill Clinton To Campaign With Obama For First Time

WASHINGTON — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will campaign for the first time alongside former President Bill Clinton at a rally next week in Orlando, Fla.

The two will appear together Wednesday in the perennial battleground state, Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki said.

Orlando sits in an important swing part of the state, where Clinton could help Obama among the white working-class voters who so strongly supported his wife.

Bill Clinton was cool toward Obama following the bruising nomination battle between Obama and Clinton's wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. However, any lingering animosity was put aside when both Clintons gave rousing endorsements of Obama at the Democratic National Convention in August.

Since then, Bill Clinton has campaigned for Obama on his own, but the two have not appeared together at such an event.

Comments

[fisharefreinds]

You all embrace Powell, the lier of our times and great friend of George Bush--"he was duped!" Duped I tell ya!
But listen to the hate for Clinton, who did this to you people?

[partyofone]

Now that Obama on his own has a 10 point lead over McCain, Bill Clinton wants in and wants credit for an Obama victory. One of the things history will record about the Clintons is that they did their dishonest, divisivie, mean-spirited, bitter best to DEFEAT Obama, and supported him in the end only to grab the spotilight with a winner. So typically self-interested.

Obama is winning this election on the high road in politics, something the Clintons have never seen and do not understand. Bill and Hillary are the past. Obama can indulge them if he wants, but it compromises his message of change and ending politics as usual.

[w8aminute]

Never underestimate the belief Americans hold about how much better they had it during the Clinton years. I'll take Bill or Hill campaigning for Obama anyday over Lindsey Graham & Tim Pawlenty blowing Sarah Palin's horn.

[wendynyc]

Did everyone hear Chris Todd on Meet The Press imply that a Democratic President and filibuster proof Democratic Congress will be bad for America.

Hey Everyone - we need those 60 seats - we need to clean up big time after the last 8 years.

[fiorastar]

We just voted for Jeff Merkley in our house--running a positive campaign against Gordon Smith, who has been increasingly nasty this election cycle. True colors come out when the going gets tough.

Oregon's doing our part!

[Dynamohum]

I voted on Thursday Oct 24. Obama-Biden. It took about 10-15 minutes including line. It felt great to have some confidence that this time there may be so much of a gap that no fraud or diebold machines can stop the Obama wave. OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[ThePeacemakers]

They only worry about spending when they think (and don't know) that the government might actually spend money on the things all citizens use and filter the tax dollars (the neo-cons call it "welfare", right) away from the corporations. Again, why did Homeland Security get created when there were already 15 or 16 other national security/intelligence agencies already in existence?
They didn't say crap about that spending.
Corps don't want to pay taxes but they want to use the tax dollars and the trend has been to take the tax money and run overseas.
Then say they've got wealth because of the "free market".
Stop. Already.

[kennedy]

President Mc Cain

[obamasandiego]

RE Clinton, this is what you call strategy. McCain's all tactics. Remember the first debate? When McCain schooled Obama on the difference between strategy and tactic? How ironic.

[rich misty]

This information is topical here:

Yesterday, David Frum at AEI went to press in the Washington Post and threw in the towell on the McCain campaign. On the second page of his column he identified two tactical moves that the RNC _must_ do immediately:

1. Every available dollar that can be shifted to a senatorial campaign must be shifted to a senatorial campaign.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/23/AR2008102302081_2.html?hpid=opinionsbox1

Compare that to the analysis from Dr. Sam Wang at the Princeton Election Consortium last week:

http://election.princeton.edu/2008/10/14/get-on-the-bus/

A last minute surge, even a small one, will make a significant difference. Please pass the word around:

http://www.senateguru.com/

[ladydriver]

It would be great to see President Clinton in Pittsburgh with Obama on Monday! I can hope!

[partyofone]

Why? Bill Clinton just wants Obama's spotlight. Obama beat Hillary and he can beat McCain. without the self-serving Bill Clinton.

[shutdown]

How nice of you to show up when Obama appears to be moving towards victory.

Guess your plan to sit on the sidelines and covertly help McCain didn't work, did it?

[fiorastar]

Don't attack Clinton. This is clearly part of the so-far brilliant campaign strategy of Obama and his team. He saved the real Clinton Push for the final moments to get all that energy up just at the right time to surge us into a landslide!

Keep working! Cross the finish line running as hard as we can!

[ohmercy]

Amen.

I can't get over how stupid and hateful some people are about Clinton and not getting how campaigning worls.

Tghe candidate and the campaign put toghether the campaign schedule and strategy. The camp[aigners and surrogates do what they are ASKED.

These are the same people who would attack Bill if he did go off on his own and cammpaign-- or that say Hillary hasn't done enough when she has appeared over 65 times on his behaqlf and raised millions- I think it was 8 million at last count- for him.

When people are determined to be nasty and hateful logic and facts mean nothing- hate is irrational and cannot be argued with.

[lippy33]

This is perfect timing. I knew they'd save Bill for last. Of course you'd want to have the last Democratic President, who is still more popular than our current President, be seen with you the final week of the election. It just makes sense.....the passing of the torch.

[GeoLee]

Especially shrewd move to have him out on the day of his half hour speech on television that night in his ad. It will insure all the focus of the day will be on the democrats. You cannot beat that kind of coverage this late inthe campaign.

[bonchesva]

"lippy33" - I couldn't agree more. It doesn't matter when Bill Clinton campains with Barack Obama. He has been supportive of Barack Obama ever since he was chosen to be the democratic presidential candidate. The man has a life too you know!

[partyofone]

Bill Clinton has undermined Obama in every way he could, without being exiled from the Democratic party. IF Bill campaigns for Obama, it is about Bill and his ego. History testify that the Clintons did their best to prevent Obama from becoming president, and failed.

[KathyinCT]

GUYS -- Bill can have a powerful impact -- in limited doses. If Barack had rolled him out 24/7 all over weeks ago, a) we'd be sick of him by now and so b) his impact would be limited.

They have timed this perfectly. Clinton is doing what Obama has said he's needed to do.

They play every card right. Every chess move is planned out.

This is PERFECT. You get the huge huge media coverage all over from Clinton/Obama. Then Barack has his half-hour special. More events.

Vote.

The country is saved.

[neesy08]

Atta boy, Slick Willie! Go get 'em!

[mikebell90]

I'm happy Hilary and Bill are finally doing something. But I must say I lost a LOT of respect for them this year.

Not so much the tough campaigning - I didn't like parts of that, but I could deal.
But just the general feeling of entitlement Hilary exuded, and the feeling of a temper tantrum when it became clear that she would not become the nominee...

I just feel like they''ve both been shown to be VERY POOR LOSERS. And that....diminishes my positive feelings for them.

[useyourbrain]

Sore losers? Hillary has already campaigned for Obama more than any other primary loser than all democratic contenders combined for 40 years. She has also raised tens of millions and gone to her supporters asking them to give donations to Obama.

[GeoLee]

And how much real respect did you ever have for them? Obama got my vote on Friday because of Hillary Clinton's strong support of him after conceding. She has been more involved in campaigning than any losing candidate I can remember in my long voting lifetime (40 years)...From the 90 after your name, I suspect your memory is pretty short in comparison. Where is John Kerry? where is Al Gore? Where is Dukakis? Where is Chris Dodd? where is almost every former candidate or office holder? Huh? Stop your griping about he Clintons and grow up and get a real life in the real world . Geez!

[classc 1]

To the OP...I felt the same way as you did and was very hurt by the actions of the Clintons during the primary...and to Geo..I once had a LOT of respect for them both. I am gaining it back as Hillary has been a great advocate for Obama and has been at the TOP of her game. Bottom line...i got over my issues and actually contributed to Hillary after her DNC speech.

That being said...WHY OH WHY are we starting with this B*S today of all days? Yes...Bill has had some moments where I have wanted to ch**ke him as of late. However, Hillary has given Obama more than her best. can we just let this RIDE!!! President Clinton is still...well...President Clinton!!! No one does it better when he is on his game. Let's just be happy and get this thing done!!!

[swift goat pet for truth]

Hey, me, too.
Hillary reminded me about the cause. I'm a Kucinich guy. Hill and Obama are way too conservative for me.

But I donated to Hill because of that speech. Then more when she started actively campaigning. Then more when Bill hit the trail.

Better Obama than Mr. Erratic.

[angelbravo]

Thank you Bill and Hillary, I have been rough and critical of you this past year. Thanks for your support

[BluePrideSMW]

There is legacy to consider: Moms Mabley sings Abraham, Martin & John (and then, Bobby...) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iNoBmaWICeo

[neesy08]

I had tears in my eyes. I wish all of them, along with Douglas, Edgars, the four little girls that died in the church bombing, Emmitt, Tillett, Harriet Tubman, Kunta Kinte, Parsk, Coretta, etc could live to see this time in our history

[LisaLisa1234]

Amen.

[kgdr24]

I grew up the Clinton's in the White House and naively thought that prosperity and peace were the American way of life. Well, George Bush cured me of that false expectation. But I still keep the dream alive that we can return to that way of life. Seeing Clinton and Obama together just reminds me once more that such good times could be ahead for all of us if Obama wins. But like many of you have said before me in this blog, Obama can't fulfill his promises if we don't fulfill ours and actually get out and vote! Also, don't forget the historical legacy of being able to say that you cast a vote for America's first African-American president- something your grandchildren will view with respect and gratitude when they inherit a country without racism, working social systems, guaranteed civil liberties, a thriving economy, and world peace.

[useyourbrain]

It's perfectly timed. McCain-Palin are ranting over the top about Obama being a communist socialist who will ruin the economy and cost jobs. What a perfect time to compare the Clinton years with the Bush years -- 22 million NEW jobs, balanced budgets and surpluses not deficits AND Clinton raised taxes when needed (So did Reagan in California and DC since he saw it was NEEDED!!!). He raised taxes and the economy boomed.

All the pundits and commentators will bring up the comparison to McBush. Slam-dunk.