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.”
From CNN Politics
- Inside the backchannel communications keeping Donald Trump in the loop on Republican investigations
- 10 Cards Charging 0% Interest Until 2024
- McCarthy sends letter to Biden urging more robust negotiations on the debt ceiling
- Untitled
- Joe Biden attacks Republicans for positions he once held about Social Security
- US announces it supports creation of special tribunal to prosecute Russia for 'crime of aggression' in Ukraine
awwh Bill I wouldnt help him if i were you. Obama and his supporters blasted you through the primaries. If you stump for Obama his supporters will complain that A you are up to something or B you arent doing enough to help him, they feel they don't need your help. The obama camp made it out that you and hillary were racisits why would they want racists help? Its funny how badly obama talked about clinton and now he's taking a bunch of people from Bill's administration.
Waaahooo!!! For the strong primaries we had I still can't help but have so much respect for President Clinton, I was so worried they would be bitter friends but this give's me hope! I can't wait to see these 2 working togather!!
He is welcome to help us elect Obama the next president of United states. Only one thing,
We supporters of Obama are not ready to offset the debt he incurred cruising around in a jet. He wasn't a candidate.
They overspent by using three planes.
Hillary was the candidate which was ok. But I don't understand why chelsea and Bill had each plane and not caring how much they travel seperately.......
No, No, No, Not Bill Clinton, He needs to take a vacation or find
somthing else to do. We want to win in November and I'm not
sure about the CLINTONS.
Family fight is over! Let's go team! This is wonderful news!
Bill and Hillary welcome to our team! We are honored to have you!
I hope no one is really fooled about how Bill hurt Hillary's campaign!
Without him she would have not gotten that many votes! Bill worked his heart out for her. Sure – he made some mistakes but so did Obama....we all do!
Go Bam!
good news. We have to forget the past and focus on the future and the unity of this country.
Many Americans are hurding because of the BUSH/McCain policies (Iraq, Econmy for the rich people, Gas price, foreclosures ...)
Let's come together....
Welcome Bill.
Good. Kick the PUMAs where the sun don't shine
Bill since Obama is only the presumptive nominee we still believe Hillary has a chance. Let's load up the buses and take this party to Denver.
The last time the wisdom of the voters was to get away from the Clintons people voted for Bush instead of Gore .... so watch what you ask for.
When Bill ran, did they ask for Hillary's opinion this much?
It seems at this point that his matters more than hers...
LOL Farrell so true. Bye Bye McCain.
WHAT ELSE WOULD HE DO SINCE HIS WIFE WANTS A POSITION IN THE OBAMA CABINET. IT TOOK A REAL WIZZARD TO REPORT ON THIS ARTICLE AND I KNEW IT WOULD HAVE TO BE THE CNN RAG.
...that's the spirit Bill!
These are the reasons why I can never vote for Obama.
He played the race card against the other candidate of his own party.
His supporters used the politics of hate, vile and filthy denigrating insults to trash the other candidate of the same party.
Obama used strong arm tactics to cheat at caucus.
Obama lied about HRC's positions.
Votes were not counted.
HRC was forced out of the race before taking it to the convention by her own party.
Obama was installed as nominee.
TO VOTE FOR OBAMA NOW IS TO ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE DIRTY HATEFUL TACTICS OF DIVIDE AND CONQUER TO ELIMINATE AND GUT YOUR OPPONENT.
Bill Clinton make a lot of mistakes in the primary, but I God said forgive each other, as smart as he is he is only human, So President Clinton you are forgiven we accept your support you were one of the greatest president and the democrats need you.
thank you ,bill!you are a better person,than most of your wives' supporters,who still refuse to vote on the issues.they want their entitlement!go vote for mccain ,you limp-noodles!we dont want idol worshippers in our government.
Bill trying to get some help to pay off that campaign loan. That still boggles my mind as if folks think that Obama is SUPPOSED to help them get outta a jam and they are multi millionaires. Why don't Hiliary supporters send her some money to help out since they love her so much. Like Obama said they need to GET OVER IT.
That's great. I really appreciate Bill showing his support of the nominee.
Obama did not win fair and square. Obama played dirty politics to steal the nomination.
These are the reasons why I can never vote for Obama:
He played the race card against the other candidate of his own party.
His supporters used the politics of hate, vile and filthy denigrating insults to trash the other candidate of the same party.
Obama used strong arm tactics to cheat at caucus.
Obama lied about HRC's positions.
Votes were not counted.
HRC was forced out of the race before taking it to the convention by her own party.
Obama was installed as nominee.
TO VOTE FOR OBAMA NOW IS TO ENCOURAGE ALL THOSE DIRTY HATEFUL TACTICS OF DIVIDE AND CONQUER TO ELIMINATE AND GUT YOUR OPPONENT.
He is just playing the Democratic game, he truly despises Obama like the rest of us rational-thinking people.
Obama was selected, not elected.
Those words must surely be buring Bill's tongue.
I think people will have a hard time believing him after the comments he made while campaigning for his wife.
Might be better off asking him for support but to stay out of actively campaigning for Obama. He hurt his wife's campaign more times than he helped it. I'd be worried he'd do the same to Obama's.
People are funny when Bill was president we African American's were all over him now we turn our backs......Look out Sen Obama as soon as you do something we don't like we will turn on you believe me just ask Bill Clinton, Tavis Smiley, Bill Cosby go ahead ask them.
Bill Clinton needs to be "committed", somewhere, just not to Obama!