Horserace
October 1, 2008 4:35 PM

Bill Clinton Heads Out On Trail For Obama

A dispatch from CBSNews.com political intern William Chin:

Former President Bill Clinton officially campaigned on Barack Obama's behalf for the first time today in Florida, the Associated Press reports. Clinton, who told the crowd "Hillary sent me," condemned Republican economic policies and issued an endorsement of Obama – though he did not mention the Democratic nominee's name until more than 5 minutes into his speech.

In front of a crowd of several thousand, Clinton talked about the nation's financial problems at length, praising Obama for his approach to the economic crisis. He also heaped high praise of Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, saying that no one in the Senate understands the economic and security challenges like Biden.

Clinton said Obama had asked him and other economic advisers for guidance.

The former president, who has been criticized for refusing to attack John McCain, told the crowd, "you don't have to say one bad word about Sen. Obama's opponent, you just have to tell them the truth." Clinton has professed admiration for McCain in the past, calling him a "great man." As the AP points out, Clinton has not said anything similar about Obama.

A Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday showed Obama with a 51-43 lead over McCain among likely voters in Florida.
Tags:
Bill Clinton ,
Barack Obama
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Bill Clinton
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by ohmichael October 2, 2008 3:32 PM EDT
where''s hillery?
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by spaan2 October 2, 2008 4:51 AM EDT
It is good to note that President Clinton is heading to Florida to assist in the campaign for Obama who is leading in Florida over McCain by 3%. Hillary is an accomplished senator and politician.
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by lanawonders October 2, 2008 4:06 AM EDT
President Clinton is a better spokesperson for Obama...than Giuliani is for Mccain...Rudy stinks
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by barbaralexi October 2, 2008 3:58 AM EDT
So grateful that President Clinton has decided to openly back Obama. I simply loved his comments on the Replublican vice President Nominee. AND He''s right as usual!
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by accj1957 October 2, 2008 3:34 AM EDT
BILL IS DOING A GOOD JOB FOR OBAMA WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND QUIT LIVING IN THE PASS.
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by cbs300 October 2, 2008 2:19 AM EDT
Couric Patronizingly Challenges & Lectures
Palin; Coddled Biden

In her day-on-the-campaign-trail stories about the VP candidates, Katie Couric didn''''t even try to deliver equal treatment. Last week, after her piece on her day with Joe Biden, CyberAlert outlined what she must do to be consistent with Palin this week. She failed. Unlike with Biden on September 22, in the "Sarah Palin: Behind the Scenes" story on Tuesday''''s CBS Evening News, Couric declared a McCain-Palin policy position "misleading," deliberately highlighted a policy disagreement between the two (drilling in ANWR), condescendingly demanded that Palin list the names of newspapers she read in Alaska and then treated Palin''''s conservative views as alien and thus in need of explanation -- pressing her on whether she agrees global warming is "man-made," hitting her repeatedly on whether it should be illegal for a 15-year-old rape or incest victim to get an abortion or the "morning-after" pill and requiring she offer her position on teaching evolution
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by oly_joe October 1, 2008 10:42 PM EDT
Glad to have Bill on Obabma''s team .. I''m sure he will be nothing but an asset in the upcoming campaign race!
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by rdepontb October 1, 2008 10:38 PM EDT
Bill,
Still not over those charges of racism against you from down south, are you. I don''t blame you. I had never seen such blatant twisting of the truth; not until seeing McCain and co. at work.

Obama is a fine American, a great American, as all Senators are. He is showing leadership, showing he''s not afraid to ask for help and insights, not afraid to put friends on the spot for that help. That is what this country needs. Please help.
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by dburfears October 1, 2008 10:14 PM EDT
Bill has ruined his standing in the Democratic Party with his obvious attempts to have it both ways:
1) He does not want to be blamed for Obama losing.
2) He wants to keep Obama from winning.

Clinton is a very smart man. Too bad for him his wife is smarter. Too bad for her she is married to him.
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by julez47 October 1, 2008 9:28 PM EDT
Geez Bill, can you swallow it and get on with the task at hand? Electing a democratic President? Your wife should give you lessons in grace and class, because she''s got it and you need it.
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