US prez polls: Clinton craze bodes well for Obamania

Barack Obama is the "only right person" for America, said former president Bill Clinton as he endorsed his defence policy and touted his job record. Bikash Mohapatra reports from St Petersburg

It may be something on expected lines but it has worked wonders nonetheless. 

Bill Clinton, being a Democrat, was always expected to endorse Barack Obama for Tuesday's presidential elections. However, what has worked wonders for the incumbent is the fact that the charismatic former United States president has gone full throttle in his campaign. 

It was only a few days ago that Clinton had toured Florida. However, he was back at the Coliseum, St Petersburg on Friday, trying to exhort voters to get Obama back to power, this despite having a sore throat. 

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"We have come down to the end of the campaign and though I am not the president anymore, I am all for change," began Clinton. 

The former president predictably pointed out at two recent instances -- Obama touring the Sandy-ravaged New Jersey with its Republican governor and the fact that Michael Bloomberg, New York governor and a perennial Obama critic, had recently eulogised about the president -- to emphasise Obama's eligibility for a second term. 

"We have to create jobs and we have got to deal with the long-term debt problem. I am sure Obama will work in a sensible way towards solving them," said Clinton.

"You need to try and work with people in order to achieve that and I believe Obama does that very well," he added. 

Clinton also endorsed Obama's defence policy and applauded his efforts towards a resolution to the problems in both Iraq and Afghanistan. 

"He has in the last four years proved that he is a very good commander-in-chief. I also credit him for assembling a very good national security team," said Clinton.

The former president also congratulated Obama on his economic measures, while simultaneously drawing attention to the efforts, rather lack of it, of the Republican government before 2008. 

"I believe, based on my knowledge and understanding, that Obama has done a far better job at reviving the economy than Mitt Romney will ever do," asserted Clinton, adding, "In the last 33 months, the economy has improved, doesn't matter if the rate was slower than expected. Compare the figures in that period to the previous seven years of the George W Bush government and you will know the difference."  

Clinton albeit admitted that the American economy is yet to recover completely from the downturn. He, however, refused to blame Obama for the same. 

"Nobody can repair all the damage in just four years," explained Clinton. 

"Maybe we will get back on track in another four years if we have the right person in charge," he continued, adding, "Obama is the only right person. He has got better plans for the future and we as a nation have to look forward in the 21st century." 

"The most successful countries in the world create cooperation, not conflict. We also need to do that. And Obama is the best choice to that end," he concluded.

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