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Opinion: Bill Clinton is on the line

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Carol Ann Campbell plans to return Bill Clinton’s call. But she insists that whatever the ex-president has to say, regardless of how persuasive he may be, she won’t be swayed.

As a Democratic superdelegate to the party’s national convention, she’s decided to back Barack Obama. And she is not about to reconsider.

Campbell, as The Times’ Peter Nicholas detailed in this story, was wooed over the weekend by Obama’s wife, Michelle (these candidate spouses apparently are burning up the phone lines). By the time their conversation ended, Campbell had gone from leaning toward Hillary Clinton to solidly rooting for Michelle’s husband.

Campbell, a former member of the Philadelphia City Council, mentioned to Nicholas that she was surprised she had not already heard from an old friend in the world of Democratic politics -- Tony Podesta, a renowned D.C. lobbyist whose brother, John, was a chief of staff in Bill Clinton’s White House.

Nicholas, as part of his reporting, called ...

Tony Podesta. Not surprisingly, Podesta later called Campbell. And Monday night, Clinton left his message for her.

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As of this afternoon, Campbell and Clinton had not connected. But when they do, his efforts will be in vain. “My word is my bond,’ Campbell told Nicholas today. “I’m committed to Obama.’

At the least, she and the ex-president can catch up on old times. “I’ve talked to Bill Clinton before,’ said Campbell. “He used to invite me to parties’ held in conjunction with the Army-Navy game, which is played annually in Philadelphia.

-- Don Frederick

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