Political Hotsheet
By

Steve Chaggaris /

CBS News/ July 30, 2012, 6:14 AM

Bill Clinton to have a prominent role at Democratic Convention

Clinton helps Obama raise $3.6 million at NYC fundraiser

Former President Bill Clinton and President Obama wave to the crowd during a campaign event at the Waldorf Astoria, June 4, 2012, in New York.

/ AP
(CBS News) Former President Bill Clinton will have a major role in this year's Democratic Convention and will speak on Wednesday night in the slot traditionally reserved for the vice presidential nominee.

Monday, convention organizers will announce Clinton's speech, first reported by the New York Times and confirmed by CBS News, which will happen in prime time on Wednesday, Sept. 5, at a time when the TV networks are expected to be covering the convention live.

An Obama campaign adviser tells CBS News the former president will place President Obama's name in nomination for a second term and focus on highlighting Mr. Obama's economic record.

"There's no one better to cut through on economic issues and lay out the choice in the election because he understands the consequences of the policy differences - he knows that with its top-down approach, the GOP turned a record surplus into a record deficit leading to the worst economic crisis since the Depression," the Obama campaign adviser told CBS News via email. "He'll lay out the case to continue building the economy from the middle class out."

Mr. Clinton remains one of the most popular Democrats in the country, and despite a series of seemingly contrasting viewpoints with Mr. Obama, his speech should offer a boost to the president as he embarks on his general election campaign against Mitt Romney.

As for Vice President Joe Biden, who's being bumped from the traditional Wednesday night slot, he'll wind up introducing President Obama on Thursday, Sept. 6, at the larger Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, where Mr. Obama will deliver his acceptance speech.

"The VP will speak Thursday because that night is the focal point of the Convention. He and the President will speak to tens of thousands of people at the stadium," the adviser continued.

"He'll build toward the President's speech by giving unique insights and perspective of the President's governing character and the challenges/decisions over the last four years in a way that only he can."

CBS News' Caroline Horn contributed to this report.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
102 Comments Add a Comment
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ccpGOP says:
Anyone know if Monica Lewinski is making a speech?
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venusvegasvada says:
FREE GWB!


Why is the GOP keeping it's "Big Gun" locked up in the chicken coop behind the barn?

I want to see George W Bush released from GOP prison and start campaigning for Romney.

I think it would be very beneficial to hear GWB remind us all of how great Bush's trickle down economic plan, er...Romney's trickle down economic plan...err, the same plan, worked before...err..will work again.

Bill Clinton is coming out to the Dems' party. No Fear Bill and no shame for the Dems. They are proud of Bill and can't wait to let him off the chain.

Anyone at the GOP want to comment on that?

Where's the GOP love and respect for their main man, GWB?

So I say again!

FREE GWB!
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samXXkiley says:
coucou,
++++Mr. Clinton remains one of the most popular Democrats in the country...++++

====================
indeed, thanks to his popularity which is remained intact in US and elsewhere but also his charisma, Bill Clinton knows how to convince, his speech will have a great impact on further events
"au revoir"
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Markus405 says:
Meanwhile, on the Hannity show, Dick "weasel" Morris strongly suspects Bill Clinton will vote for Romney. Explains new voting laws passed by Republicans allow fantasy ballots to be included.
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CTsherman1955 says:
So the Bamster is probably going to dump Biden and the pull Hillary out of the ole Bill Clinton time slot. Oooooooooooooh so Hollywood. O so Obama!!!!
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RollotheNorman replies:
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Lay off the sauce and get into rehab.
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Ulgnud says:
The Democrats must be getting really desperate with Obamas failures that they have to drag out "Slick Willie", a known liar to stump for him.
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RollotheNorman replies:
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"Former President Bill Clinton's favorability rating has soared in the past three years and now stands at 67 percent — his highest rating since leaving the White House, according to a survey by The Pew Research Center for the People & the Press."

From one of the RepubliCON watering holes:

http://www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/BillClinton-Pew-ranking-record/2011/03/24/id/390592
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CaptainSmollett says:
Why give a FAILED administration a second chance?
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forrestt56 replies:
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The administration has not failed. Mr Obama has done many great things for America and its Citizens.
The rich and greedy have become so deeply embedded in our politics that the corporate paid-off GOP polititians will not do anything to help our President or our Country move ahead and they will be remembered for that.

A vote for the GOP corporate puppets is a death sentence for this Country.
Vote for the Working Citizens, Vote Democrat.
CaptainSmollett replies:
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Forrestt - Obama has done "great things"? LIKE WHAT?
- Putting the most people on Food Stamps in history?
- Passing Obamacare, which will cost thousands of jobs and force a third of employees to loose their employer-paid health insurance?
- Increasing taxes on the working-class (buried in Obamacare)?
- Keeping unemployment over 8% for 41 straight months?
- Running trillion-dollar deficits for four straight years?
- Increasing the national debt to almost $16 trillion?
- Increasing poverty to a 47-year high?

I know, you want to blame Bush and the GOP House...anything to deny responsibility. But Obama OWNS this one.
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CaptainSmollett says:
Oh who cares about the DNC convention, no one will be watching any how. Though I wonder how they'll explain away the increase in poverty to the highest level since 1965?
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BigBlivefromny replies:
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yeah, and the huge slide began when GW Bush took office dipweed! He began a stupid war against Iraq WHO HAD NOTHING TO DO w/ 9-11 which cost all of us a TRILLION DOLLARS, then he screwed up the war in Afghanistan tragically, which is still ongoing...and how you Republican wingnuts can even spout your nonsense in the light of day baffles me. Please shut your traps.Who killed Bin Laden. Thought Bush was "gonna smoke him outta his hole". ha ha ha.
CaptainSmollett replies:
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BigB, if you haven't noticed, Bush is not on the ballot. LOL

Obama has spend four years and trillions of dollars just to drive us further into an economic abyss. He IS on the ballot.
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expatriate2 says:
jgg000010 July 30, 2012 5:20 PM EDT
cool, maybe now the media will revisit our Haitian humanitarian efforts after the earthquake. They can start with "where's the $712M" , obama's "The people of Haiti will not be forsaken", and then appointing Bill Clinton as Ambassador to Haiti. Then maybe Bill can explain why Haiti is worse-off now than before they got all this money and attention.
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Bill Clinton was made ambassador to Haiti???? That will come as news to Ken Merten or Pamela White.
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Socialistnation says:
This should be funny. Clinton will introduce Obama as the Political Thug from Chicago....
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