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Reviews are flooding in on President-elect Obama’s selections for his national security and foreign policy team but one in particular stuck out of the in-box – a statement from former President Bill Clinton, who was quick to laud the selection of his wife, Hillary Clinton, to be Secretary of State. Here’s the full text:

As an American, I am thankful that President-elect Barack Obama has asked Hillary to be Secretary of State and that she has accepted. As her husband, I am deeply proud.

She is the right person for the job of helping to restore America's image abroad, end the war in Iraq, advance peace and increase our security, by building a future for our children with more partners and fewer adversaries, one of shared responsibilities and opportunities.

She has already earned the respect of foreign leaders and diplomats through her work to promote human rights and the empowerment of women through access to education, healthcare and economic opportunity. And Americans know, from her leadership in the Senate on national security, that she will always put the security, values and the interests of our people first.

In her service to the people of New York and our nation, Hillary has demonstrated the knowledge, passion, resilience, and capacity to learn that our country needs at this critical time. She loves being a Senator from New York, but as she has in all the thirty-seven years I've known her, she answered the call to serve. I commend President-Elect Obama for asking her to be a part of a great national security team. America will be well-served.

Hillary Clinton has sent a fundraising email out through her political action committee on behalf of Minnesota Senate candidate Al Franken, whose electoral battle against rival Norm Coleman is headed for a recount.

"Just 206 votes," the email opens. "That's the difference separating Al Franken and Norm Coleman in the Minnesota Senate race -- 206 votes out of about 3 million cast."

"In the coming days, Minnesota officials will carefully count every vote to make sure they get the most accurate count possible," the email continues. "But once again, Republicans want to interfere any way they can with the vote-counting. They're setting up legal challenges and questioning the voting officials' integrity."

The email goes on to request donations to Franken's campaign to "make sure every vote is counted."

Democrats now effectively control 57 Senate seats. If this race, along with the other two outstanding contests in Alaska and Georgia, goes their way, they will have the 60 votes necessary for a filibuster-proof majority.

Former President Bill Clinton will be making his first joint appearance of the campaign with Barack Obama in Orlando, Florida tonight. This afternoon, he and Hillary Clinton have sent out a get-out-the vote video on Obama’s behalf. Importantly, the video was not sent from the Obama campaign but to supporters of Hillary Clinton from her HillPac organization.

“We worked awfully hard in this election because you’ve got a lot at stake,” Bill Clinton begins. “It’s still important, it’s more important than ever,” he continues. “Boy, is that true,” Hillary continues, “and we’re asking everybody to get involved. Get out, do what you can, talk to your friends and your neighbors, make those phone calls, walk those streets – get the word out that this election is really important.” Bill Clinton: “Senator Obama and Senator Biden need your help November 4th.” Hillary Clinton: “So please everybody, get involved and don’t forget to register and don’t forget to vote November 4th.” Watch it:

Hillary Clinton is ratcheting up her efforts to get her supporters engaged in Barack Obama’s campaign, the Associated Press reports. In a conference call with as many as 2,000 of her primary supporters from all over the nation this afternoon, Clinton will urge them to get more actively involved with the Obama campaign in both time and money in what is being billed as a “Hillary Sent Me” effort.

Clinton reportedly will ask supporters to travel to a specific battleground state each week, starting with New Hampshire on September 27th. "Today I am asking all of you to stand up, hit the road and spread the word that we must elect Barack Obama president and we must send a filibuster-proof majority to Congress," Clinton will tell supporters according to prepared remarks provided to the AP. "This is a call to action. This is a must-do. We all have a role. And there is not a moment to lose."

According to Obama strategist Robert Gibbs, Barack Obama called Hillary Clinton not long after her primetime speech at the Democratic National Convention tonight.

CBS News’ Maria Gavrilovic reports this news from Gibbs:

After leaving the house party, Senator Obama called and talked for several minutes with Senator Hillary Clinton saying how grateful he was for her support, that she gave a terrific speech and that all those he watched with in Billings, MT were moved by her video and introduction from Chelsea. Also said he loved her line "No way, no how, no McCain."

Senator Obama also called and spoke with President Bill Clinton for several minutes saying Senator Clinton could not have been better and made the case for change. Obama said he knew how proud he must have been watching as he was last night watching Michelle speak and how grateful he was for their support.

And John McCain’s campaign responded to Clinton’s speech immediately after it concluded.

“Senator Clinton ran her presidential campaign making clear that Barack Obama is not prepared to lead as commander in chief,” Tucker Bounds, spokesman John McCain 2008 said in a statement. "Nowhere tonight did she alter that assessment. Nowhere tonight did she say that Barack Obama is ready to lead. Millions of Hillary Clinton supporters and millions of Americans remain concerned about whether Barack Obama is ready to be President.”

(DENVER) “Are you ready to unleash the power of women to take our country back?” asked EMILY’s list founder Ellen Malcolm at the organization’s gala in the Sheraton Denver hotel Tuesday afternoon.

Before a crowd made up largely of liberal women, Malcolm encouraged the crowd to support the Democratic ticket, prompting a cheer when she noted that both Barack Obama and Joe Biden are pro-choice. The crowd really got going, however, when she mentioned another Democrat who’s been making headlines at the Democratic National Convention this week.

“Hillary,” Malcolm said loudly, “you make us proud.”

Clinton came to the podium about a half hour later, to a rapturous welcome from the crowd. The New York senator noted that today is the anniversary of the day when women were given the right to vote, saying, “there could not be a better day to celebrate the power of the women’s vote.”

Clinton urged the crowd to support the Democratic ticket.

“Barack and Joe will champion the issues we care about,” she said, telling the crowd “they will stand with us and they will fight for us.”

She also targeted presumptive GOP nominee John McCain.

“He still doesn’t believe that women deserve equal pay for equal work,” Clinton said. “He doesn’t believe that women deserve the right to choose. He would turn the clock back, and what we need from our president is forward movement.”

“The choice facing women in this election could not be clearer,” Clinton added. “The stakes could not be higher.” She urged her supporters to “work as hard for Barack Obama as you did for me in the next months. “

The former first lady left the stage soon after, saying she had to work on the speech she will be giving at the Pepsi Center later tonight.

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With the Democratic National Convention beginning today, the McCain campaign has released its second straight ad looking to capitalize on frustration amongst Hillary Clinton supporters that their candidate is not the party's nominee.

The latest spot, “Debra,” features Debra Bartoshevich, a former Clinton delegate, discussing her decision to back John McCain.

I'm a proud Hillary Clinton Democrat,” Bartoshevich says as the spot opens. “She had the experience and judgment to be President. Now, in a first for me, I'm supporting a Republican, John McCain. I respect his maverick and independent streak, and now he's the one with the experience and judgment. A lot of Democrats will vote McCain. It's okay, really!”



“Debra” comes on the heels of “Passed Over,” a McCain ad suggesting that Clinton was not asked to be Obama’s running mate because she spoke the truth about his shortcomings during the primary battle.

UPDATE: The Obama campaign sends a responds from Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz: "“This ad does not reflect the sentiment of the thousands of former Clinton supporters from my Congressional District who have embraced Barack Obama's message of uniting Americans and getting the country back on track. Cheap political stunts like this ad show that John McCain is offering more of the same: four more years of failed Bush policies and a record of supporting George Bush 95% of the time and losing track of how many houses he owns. Hillary Clinton supporters are embracing Barack Obama and Joe Biden because they know they will bring a tax code that gives real relief to working families, a serious plan to tackle the energy crisis and help you cope with rising prices, and an end to the kind of political game too often on display at McCain headquarters."

Hillary Clinton will campaign for her former Democratic rival Barack Obama in South Florida on Thursday, the Obama campaign announced. The New York senator will make public appearances in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

In Palm Beach, Clinton "will host a rally focused on why Barack Obama is the only choice for voters who care about issues important to women in this election," according to the Obama campaign's press release.

Clinton will be the headline speaker next Tuesday night at the Democratic convention in Denver. The date of her speech falls on the certification of the 88th anniversary of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution, which mandated women's suffrage.

In a Web chat today, Hillary Clinton wrote that she wanted to "assure" participants that "that Senator Obama and I are working together to make sure it's a big success."

She added in an introductory note that her supporters would be represented at the Democratic National Convention. "We will ensure that the voices of everyone who participated in this historic process are respected and our party is fully unified heading into the November election," Clinton wrote.

One questioner brought up the prospect of Clinton becoming Obama's running mate.

"I have said repeatedly that I will do whatever Senator Obama asks me to do," Clinton wrote. "I am really focused and enjoying being back in the Senate and working on behalf of my New York constituents. This is Senator Obama’s decision and his alone and I am going to respect the privacy of that process by not discussing it."

Answering another question, Clinton wrote she is "pleased" that "Obama shares my commitment to universal health care." Health care was one of the main topics the rivals sparred about in the primary, with Clinton suggesting that Obama's plan, unlike hers, left millions uninsured.

Though many of the questioners were fawning, one directly asked Clinton if her support for Obama is genuine. "Are you truly supporting Senator Obama and encouraging your supporters to do the same," JR4Hill asked, "or are you just saying what you have to?"

Clinton answered by saying, in part, "I am completely committed to helping Senator Obama become the next President of the United States and urging all of you to do the same." She added: "I believe so strongly that if we want to see real progress in our country and finally break away from the failed policies of the past eight years, we need a Democrat in the White House."

Clinton was also asked if there was a possibility her name would be placed in nomination for president at the Democratic convention.

"I know that there have been a lot of questions on this subject," Clinton wrote. "Senator Obama and I share the goal of ensuring that the voices of everyone who participated in this historic process are respected. I want to assure everyone we are working together with Senator Obama's campaign and the DNC, and I am confident we will have a successful and unified Convention in Denver."

Read the entire chat here.

Sen. Hillary Clinton will soon be back on the trail for Barack Obama.

The Obama campaign has announced that Clinton will campaign for her former rival for the Democratic presidential nomination in Las Vegas, Nevada on August 8th and in South Florida on August 21st.

CBS News has learned that Obama may attend the Las Vegas event but will most likely not be at the South Florida event, a Miami fundraiser in the presumptive Democratic nominee's honor.

Clinton appeared at a "welcome back" party in New York City last night with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, where she urged attendees “to make sure we can carry on this campaign and the causes and issues that are near and dear to us.”

Clinton campaigned for Obama at a rally in Unity, New Hampshire on June 27th, but has largely stayed off the trail since then.