Bill Clinton joins Obama on the stump

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton stands with Democratic presidential candidate, U.S. President Barack Obama (L) on stage during day two of the Democratic National Convention at Time Warner Cable Arena on September 5, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. / Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

President Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will campaign together Monday, opening the final full week before Election Day with a three-state battleground blitz.

The joint rallies underscore Clinton's role as perhaps Obama's most important surrogate in the tightly contested White House race with Republican Mitt Romney. In campaign events, television advertisements and a well-regarded speech at the Democratic convention, the former president has been a chief defender of Obama's economic record, winning praise for sometimes explaining that record better than Obama himself.

The two will headline rallies Monday in Orlando, Fla., Youngstown, Ohio, and Prince William County, Va. It's the first time Obama and Clinton will campaign together during this election, though they have shared the stage at fundraisers and appeared together briefly at the party convention.

The three states are among the biggest electoral prizes up for grabs in the Nov. 6 election. Polls show Obama has an edge in Ohio, but Romney has whittled away the president's earlier leads in Florida and Virginia.

For Obama and Clinton, the rallies serve as another benchmark in a year that has solidified their transition from political rivals to allies.

Following his convention speech, Clinton has made a series of solo appearances on Obama's behalf. A high-profile event in Ohio last week also featured Bruce Springsteen.

Clinton has also appeared in campaign ads, including one out this week where the former president argues that Obama "got it right" with his economic agenda. And he's helped both Obama's campaign and the main super political action committee supporting him raise money.

Obama advisers are banking that Clinton's presence on the campaign trail will shore up the Democratic base. And they hope undecided voters will draw a connection between Obama's policies and the ones Clinton pushed when he presided over a thriving economy.

[dougsams]

Gives new meaning to "stump broke"! What, do they take turns?

[Martha12345]

Yep....... the Bevis and Butthead tour !

[Martha12345]

Now if we can get Hillary, Biden, Rice and Carney to join them.........we'll have the biggest collection of liars ever gathered in one spot since the beginning of all time. Wow !! Now that's a record.

[mcrich3]

Clinton was impeached for lying to the public.

Clinton lost his license to practice law because he lied to the grand jury.

Democratic minions still believe.

[eroteme2]

Clinton and Obama! Not Obama and Clinton. What a pair!

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

Who is the real Mitt Romney? What does he truly believe?

1994: "I believe that abortion should be safe and legal in this country."
2001: "I do not wish to be labeled pro-choice."
2002: "I will preserve and protect a woman's right to choose."
2011: "I will advocate for and support a Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act."
2012: "There's no legislation with regards to aortion that I'm familiar with that would become part of my agenda."
2012: "Mitt Romney is proudly pro-life, and he will be pro-life president." - Romney campaign spokeswoman Andrea Saul

This unprincipled, lying, position shifting, cheap used-car salesman Mitt Romney will shamelessly bend over, get into any position the prospective John wants and say anything the John like to hear to trade for his vote.

[mcrich3]

Obama:
I will close Guantonamo
Oh.. let's keep it open

I believe marriage is between a man and a woman
Oh... I guess anybody can get married

I am for the defense of marriage act
Oh... I'm against it

I'm for a balanced budget
Oh.. $16trillion and rising is ok

I guess you have your principles.
Vote for Barrack because you are an idealouge

[eroteme2]

Almost comparable to Obama being against and for same-sex marriages.

[wfw3536]

Obama can't run on his failed economic record, so he has to bring Clinton along. And Obama complains about the GOP war on women when he has Clinton, who disrespected his wife and child by having sex with a young intern in the White House. What hypocrisy.

[eroteme2]

Who, of course, was young enough to be his daughter.

[Cambone1]

The two biggest liars in the Democratic party campaigning together - one lied about his personal life under oath and was impeached and the other lied about Libya - sent no help and 4 Americans died - Great team.

[mosieb]

Shame he can't stand on his own, and must be propped up by Bill Clinton, the president that was IMPEACHED! And now he has Colin Powell on his side. Big whoop. And where is his VP, or is Bill gonna replace him? Remember he did refer to Biden as his CURRENT Vice President.

[ManOfSteel-Velvet]

Former President Clinton who has presided over the longest economic expansion in US history will campaign together with President Obama to highlight similarity between their policies.

Come on Mitt, where is your buddy George W. Bush? Why has he not campaigned for you when your proposed economic policies are simply the rehash Bush's policies?