Bill Clinton 'committed' to Obama, spokesman says
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/06/24/art.clintonsob.gi.jpg caption="Bill Clinton has not formally endorsed Obama yet."](CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton is committed to helping Sen. Barack Obama get elected to the Oval Office, a Clinton spokesman said Tuesday.
The comments are the first from Bill Clinton's office to offer support to the presumptive Democratic nominee since the party's prolonged primary race ended two weeks ago.
Watch: Where is Bill Clinton?
"President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said.
The former president was sharply critical of Obama on the campaign trail earlier this year, and has yet to publicly endorse the Illinois senator, even though his wife officially pulled out of the race June 7.
The comments come three days before both Obama and Hillary Clinton are set to appear together in Unity, New Hampshire, to show their support of a unified Democratic Party. The former president is not slated to attend that event.
Watch: Should Bill stump for Obama?
UPDATE: Responding to the statement, the Republican National Committee notes the former president has been highly critical of Obama, specifically in an interview with PBS' Charlie Rose shortly before the Iowa caucuses when he suggested voting for Obama is a "roll of the dice."
"I mean when is the last time we elected a president based on one year of service in the Senate before he started running?" Clinton said then. "He would have been a senator longer by the time he’s inaugurated, but essentially once you start running for president full-time you don’t have time to do much else.”
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good luck Barack
Oh no!!! It has begun.......alright guys, tell the Dems I'm gonna need that stuff already.......
With all his pent-up enthusiasm in tow. Yeah, right.
If he were committed, than he wouldn't need a spokesman. He had the biggest mouth on the planet while on the campaign trail–you couldn't shut him up. And now he needs a spokesperson. Give me a break.
Tell him to leave Barack supporters alone, and pay his wife's debt.
As much as I'd like to see more and more people of his public stature come out and support Obama, I am weary of Bill Clinton.
I mean, he didn't really do a great job when trying to help his wife. He was angry, pointing fingers, saying that she mispoke about things out of exhaustion at 11pm, playing the race card, etc.
**fingers crossed**
" Clinton has not formally endorsed Obama " Gee's does everyone have to baby Obama, he supports him get over it!
But we are not going to help with the debt!
I don't trust Bill Clinton! Obama needs to watch his back-Clinton's don't know how to loose!
If he wants to help Obama, he should go away on a long vacation, until after the election.
Of course he is. Bill always knows where the good parties are at!
Obama/Clinton in 08!...And if she doesn't want the VP position whatever position she wants!
I heard McCain might want Bob Dole as his VP. Jeepers, now he will take the young vote away from President Obama.
Obama,Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton with or without the PUMA people.
Obama08
Too bad...
Obama trashed and bashed you.
He played the race card against you.
His hateful supporters used the strategy of vile, filthy, vulgar insults against you to knock you out of the game.
The DNC appeased the demands of the AAs and the youth and installed Obama as nominee.
I can not vote for Obama.
To DO so would be to encourage those nasty, dirty tactics in all future democratic primaries.
I actually believe that secretly, B. Clinton respects and admires Obama..he probably reminds him of a young him(so to speak),, i also believe that if wife wasnt a candidate that he would have jumped on the Obama train long ago.. As much as i hate to admit this.. i cannot stand the Clintons and their scandalous ways but they will BOTH be benficial to our cause as Dems this year,,,, they are both truly awesome when there is a mic in their hands!!
Cool, we like Bill and we think he can help Obama een though Obama does not really need much help.
Remember what they did to him concerning Jeremiah Wright???? They all dragged him down to the gutter and he still came up to be the nominee, no one can really stop him, what could be worser than Jeremiah Wright?????
Thanks for NAFTA,I mean nothin.Your worse than Republicans,both of you.
DONT DO IT BILL.
Obama dosent deserve your help.
As you all can see Obama is the Presumptive nominee. It's not official until we have a showdown in Denver.
Go Hillary!
Of course Bill Clinton will support Obama as will anyone else in the country who isn't a religous nut, corporate elitist or been burdened with an IQ of a piece of pig iron.
When Bill Clinton endorses Obama it will put the nail in the coffin for John McCain, he won't have a prayer.
Whatever. I think Bill doesn't wanna and it shows. God loves a "cheerful" giver. If you don't wanna–then just sit down and shut up. Who the hell cares. Hill has and that's all that matters for now and for then.
Too late, Bill. Luv ya, luv Hillary - and I know you've gotta do this as a "party" loyalist. But I don't have to support Obama - and I won't!
the clintons can endorse obama for political reasons, for pressure from the democrat elders, but millions of us who supported hillary will not vote for obama. we will stay home or vote for McCain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
no to obama!
Dear Bill and Hillary,
If you really go all out to campaign for this nutjob Obama, then you two should be committed!
Freedom, justice and equality matter more to me than party loyalty or who is the president for the next 4 years.
The democratic party primary was so hateful and ugly to Hillary Clinton that it betrayed and destroyed all those ideals.
The DNC sacrificed their best candidate just to advantage the lesser candidate.
They used the strategy of hate and race baiting and disenfranchising voters,,, as well as strong- arm tactics to do it.
Words spoken with a "heartbeat."