Bill Clinton a Barack Obama backer? Not everyone got the word

Bill Clinton, the master politician of his generation, clearly was in his element Wednesday as he hit the campaign trail for Barack Obama in the key state of Florida (where the recent polls have been breaking the Democratic way).

At the first of two rallies he headlined in the Sunshine State, the ex-president joyfully worked a crowd in Orlando.  And he gave a speech as only he can: It was fiery yet folksy and focused on the issue he has always liked to talk about most.

"We can make this economy hum again," he said to his enthusiastic listeners. "But we have to change."

And just as he had a little more than a month ago at the Democratic National Convention (but has not done since), he delivered the goods on behalf of the man who derailed his wife's hopes of a presidency of her own.

“Here’s why you ought to be for Barack Obama,” Clinton told the crowd.  “He’s got better answers. Better answers for the economy, for energy, for healthcare, for education. He knows what it will take to get this country back on track.”

Still, it apparently will take more than one day of hard-core, fully committed stumping by Clinton to erase the mixed signals he has so often seemed to be sending, vis-a-vis Obama.

The Times' Faye Fiore covered Clinton in Florida, and she reports that those who came to see him included Brianna Franklin, 18, a freshman majoring in philosophy at the University of Central Florida (the site of the first rally).

Franklin supports John McCain, but she said she was willing to stand in a blazing sun to see Clinton out of curiosity and a sense of history.

Franklin, at least, knew she was at a pro-Obama gathering.  One of her fellow co-eds, by contrast, was a bit at sea.  Franklin told Fiore she had talked with a student who thought Clinton was stumping for McCain.

Why?  She had been listening to his remarks over the last few days and, just tuning into the race, picked up that he liked the Republican better.

"I would say that is a problem," Franklin opined.

We would say the Obama campaign would agree.

-- Don Frederick

Photo credits: Associated Press

Comments

[Jayson]

A college kid not understanding who Clinton is stumping for is an indictment of the kids knowledge of the political system, no matter how tepid some of Clinton's statements may have been. I mean, let's get real here.

[VJ Machiavelli]

I saw a clip of his remarks and it seems from the clip Bill thinks Obama needs to stay home and let Biden conduct foreign policy. I guess Bill believes he is not up to that part of the job.

VJ Machiavelli
http://www.vjmachiavelli.blogspot.com

[scootmandubious]

There are many good reasons to vote for Barack Obama over John McCain, but perhaps none more persuasive than this...can America allow Sarah Palin to be a heartbeat away from the presidency?

So, why has John McCain refused to release his medical records?

Somebody with a clean bill of health wouldn't think twice about doing it. If McCain's was clean, it would instantaneously take the questions and rumors off the table.

I have video of the banned ad that asks the questions (why do you suppose the networks will not allow it to be asked?), and more on the story, at:
http://scootmandubious.blogspot.com/2008/10/why-wont-john-mccain-release-his.html

[steve rodriguez]

We'll see if in 20 years these children will keep singing about Obama, after he causes them pain and suffering with his economic strategy that will affect them all their adult lives!

[John Quimby]

Bill and Hill are veteran politicians who always figure the angles and then decide where they stand.

They're moderates who earned my eternal gratitude for keeping the Donkey brand alive when it might have been totally destroyed by the Rove GOP.

Now that Bill has figured who the winner will be, I'm glad Obama has his support - for whatever it's worth.

Luke warm enough for ya?