Bill Clinton's campaign role unmatched in recent history

Chip Somodevilla

(CBS News) Former President Bill Clinton's 49-minute speech at the Democratic National Convention last week was so well-received that even Mitt Romney called it a stand-out performance that helped "elevate" the Democratic convention. Now the Obama campaign is hoping to keep that magic alive, dispatching Mr. Clinton on the campaign trail by himself this week on behalf of President Obama.

Mr. Clinton's campaigning, which includes solo stops in Miami and Orlando, Fla., may be unprecedented when it comes to campaign surrogacy from former or outgoing presidents -- at least in the last 100 years. The former president's stops are not only high profile, but also potentially very impactful, given the level of credibility he has with the public on the economy and job creation.

"Bill Clinton is probably the greatest single surrogate a candidate has had running for president in a long time, maybe in the whole 20th century," presidential historian Doug Brinkley told CBSNews.com. "And this year, it's all about jobs, jobs, jobs. Clinton has the record to match his rhetoric."

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On Tuesday, Mr. Clinton will hold an event at Florida International University in Miami. Then on Wednesday, he makes a campaign stop at the Rosen Plaza in Orlando. At both events, the former president will discuss the choice between Mr. Obama's economic vision and Romney's. The Obama campaign argues that Mr. Clinton oversaw the nation's longest period of economic expansion by pursuing many of the same economic policies Mr. Obama is pursuing now.

"There's no one better than President Clinton to lay out the clear choice Americans face in this election between moving forward with President Obama, or falling backward with Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan, who support the same failed policies that led to the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression," campaign spokesman Adam Fetcher told CBSNews.com

According to Brinkley, the last time a former or outgoing president had the chance to make this much of an impact on the campaign trail was in 1908, when Theodore Roosevelt campaigned for William Howard Taft. Ronald Reagan, for instance -- another president with high job approval ratings upon leaving office -- went back to California after moving out of the Oval Office. Whether it was due to his age, his health or the speculated lack of enthusiasm he had for George H.W. Bush's candidacy, Reagan wasn't a prominent surrogate on the trail for his successor.

Clinton, meanwhile, hasn't had the opportunity in past elections to act as a prominent surrogate.

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[DOGGYPANTS]

The ONLY reason that Bill campaings for Barrack is because he expects Barrack to campaign for Hillary. Obama started this war on women crap, so how can he allow Bill, a documented abuser of women, who commited adultery in the White House, to speak on the podium?
Monica should have delivered the keynote speech. Obama does NOT respect women at all. Obama consorts with Letterman who appears to have the mind of a pedophile predator for making those comments about Palin's daughter.

[Polisics]

I looked for Monica Lewinsky in the audience. Misters Clinton and Obama are of the same ilk--Clinton's crap is REMEMBERED. Obama's memoirs about women are creepy. If O allows Clinton to 'splain, it'll take until November, 2032.

[JCfromDC]

If Obama is soooo supported by the American people, like he believes himself to be, why does he have to pull Slick Willy out of mothballs? To "save" his campaign? If I remember recent "campaign speeches" by Mr. Bill, he was not so supportive of Obama cracking on people who were successful in life without government intervention. That smacks of some serious "jitters" if you need to ask! Mr. "Let Me Be Clear" surely made certain Bill's "wife" was nowhere to be seen or heard from during the convention! Which also gave Bill yet ANOTHER chance for an "Out of sight, out of mind" fling!

[Maerzie]

Thank you, President Bill Clinton! Hateful angry people tried to cut YOU down too, remember?? So you obviously remember how ugly envious people can get! Most Democratic Presidents in my lifetime have created BETTER economies and BETTER times for every class of people, yet the Republicans, whose party has degenerated quite a bit in the past few years, always seem to want to inject their magical failing policies again, which only benefit the small percentage of super-wealthy. Definitely the gullible middle class people who fall for their lies and hate, and vote AGAINST their own lives and incomes, like to believe they are republican, but WHY?? NOTHING Republicans EVER write into their legislation EVER benefits ANY of them. We obviously need a nation-wide class in Political Science, so this ignorance can be eliminated. Voters need to be informed and know where and how to WATCH the truth, as it happens. Listening to and reading the lies and twists from most of the networks and Republican-owned newspaper/magazine syndicates painted with partisan colors is not enough knowledge for voting. Congress.gov or C-span offer real life FACTS , AS they are happening, from the horses' mouths, BEFORE they get twisted.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

Clinton is admired and respected all over the world, while dubya can't leave the country for fear of being Pinochet'd......

[Champion111]

Funny .. was he there for Hilary who was not to be seen, setting her stage for 2016 ????

He wants back in the WHITE HOUSE TO CHASE MORE STAFFERS.

[Maerzie]

It isn't powerful men who have to chase staffers. It is the desperate staffers, who chase the powerful men, "Champion111"! You sound envious! Do you even know ALL the stories of our pesidents' affairs?? There are MANY MORE from BEFORE the media were so lazy to find REAL news that degenerated into their PRIVATE lives and bedrooms to get tabloid material. President Jefferson even had a couple black children from his affair with his slave woman, and the story is that he was IN LOVE with her. At least one descendent has gotten genetic testing done to prove his/her blood-relation to him. You sound envious!! as MOST deprived guys were, of Clinton!

[tmonta67]

Clinton's speech was a masterpiece: clear, authentic-looking and highly entertaining; he chipped away at the Republican identity bit by bit until there was nothing left but a pile of GOP shavings next to Obama and his vision.

Time will tell where the country goes from here, but that one one stellar performance regardless.

[Champion111]

Monica said "Mr President .. not so steller" ..she had to fake it ... just like he did being President

[Camo_Coyote]

I am surprised at myself for how replusive I find the picture of Obama and Clinton. That's a pair that's not bringing any good news.

[CaptainSmollett]

Porblem is, Clinton is not on the ticket.

BTW - wasn't he famoud for being the second president to ever be impeached? I think it was for perjury...

[ugacrew]

So. Are you without sin?

[CaptainSmollett]

What a ridiculous comment, ugacrew! I was never president, I've never lied to Congress and the American people, been impeached for perjury and obstruction, nor fornicated in the Oval office. Apparently you are just willing to simply overlook total moral bankruptcy? Typical liberal devoid of a moral compass.

[FormerUSMCSergeant]

"Bill Clinton is probably the greatest single surrogate a candidate has had running for president in a long time, maybe in the whole 20th century," presidential historian Doug Brinkley told CBSNews.com
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On the other hand, the repubs want dubya isolated as deep in TX as they can keep him.....

[Ulgnud]

Must be getting pretty desperate when they have to bring in a convicted liar to stump for Obama.

[ugacrew]

Are you suggesting that all of the Republican campaigners are Saints?

[novotesobozo]

Four years ago obozobots were calling for Bill's blood now they have too kiss his a--.

[ugacrew]

What the world needs now is Peace. There is never anything wrong with making amends.