Bill Clinton made a fanatical call for Americans to return Barack Obama with the White House, stating a television audience of millions that no U.S. president – not even he – could have repaired in one presidential term all the economical harm inherited from Republicans almost 4 years ago.
Clinton’s address, the highlighting of the second day of the Democratic National Convention, struck at Republican Mitt Romney’s core message: that tepid economic development and 8.3 percent unemployment is proof that Obama’s presidency has broke down and that Americans would be better off turning to a successful businessman like Romney to revive the economy. The candidates are locked in a tight race ahead of the Nov. 6 election.
Clinton gave an unhesitating, spirited endorsement of the president’s handling of the economy.
“Conditions are improving and if you’ll renew the president’s contract, you will feel it,” he said. “I believe that with all my heart.”
The choice of Clinton to formally nominate Obama during prime television viewing time raised eyebrows, given the checkered history between the men. But Democrats see him as having unique credibility as a president who took office during hard times and oversaw a long period of prosperity in the 1990s. He remains enormously popular. Even Republicans, who tried to force him from office on charges he lied under oath about an affair, now praise his record balancing budgets and reforming welfare – if only to draw a contrast with Obama. Opinion polls show Clinton is especially well-regarded among white male voters, a group that favors Romney.
