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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I really could care less whether bill or hillary support Obama or not. I lost all respect for both of them when they let their true colors show. They are a disgrace to america, along with mcwa. And now hillary, worth 109 million, has the nerve to ask those hard working people who she supports so much to donate money out of their broke pockets. PULEEEEASE!
The bible teaches us to WATCH AS WELL AS PRAY. I'll be watching the Clintons behavior very closely.
Heidi
Obama stole this nomination by getting his supporters out there to trash and bash you.
He played the race card again and again to his advantage.
His supporters were filthy, foul and nasty to You and to your supporters.
That kind of dirty politics and fixed primary DOES not get rewarded by my vote.
I prefer freedom, fair campaigns, justice and equality over the rule of Obama over us all.
I can wait 4 more years.
Hey, President,
Whenever you and your wife, Senator, come out to support the so-called nominee, it only means that you both surrend to this hijacked party and will help to damage this undemocratic party as well.
Like Hillary, Bill Clinton, has always been an intellectual, so I'm not surprised! Obama in 2009!!!!
Oh please keep Bill behind the scenes and away from the public.
Bill is holding out for the convention he thinks something is going to throw a monkey wrench in Obama's Campaigne.
So many Clinton haters, so many people desperate to rationalize their hate of both of them based on their perceived understanding of what Bill and Hillary think. And all of them wrong.
You Clinton haters consistently doubt Bill and Hillary's motives, and you're all consistently wrong. For some people, Hillary and Bill can do nothing right, ever. No reason for those baseless charges to stop now. No reason to let facts get in the way of an already-made-up mind, is there? (hey, that Rovian way of thinking has worked for Republicans for years, right?)
It has been stated thousands of years ago, that when the end of the world nears, dacoits and hooligans will rule the world causing immense misery to the people at large. we see that in Bush – we are going to see that in Obama or Maccain, for sure. Poor people!
Ummm...Thanks, but No thanks sabateur.
It would be nice for Bill to make a great speech and endorse Obama and say nice things about the future of the country, the world, etc. Then please of please let him go away for a while. We can have him back to repeat his nice words at the Convention, then go away again until just before the election to again repeat his nice words. Hopefully that way he will not do too much damage!
Bill & Hillary vs Michelle & Barack? Enough said!
It's Okay President Clinton. Be kind. The 18 Million voters know the real deal. I can't wait to see the tape of Michelle Obama calling you names in Oct-08.
It takes a lot of guts for Bill and Hillery to back a lieing flip flopper
for president, I'm a staunch democrat and I can't.
What I laugh about is Lou Dobbs talking about the media
being so much in the tank for Obama, he's absolutly right,
it's sad.
As far as CNN goes, they hate the Clintons so much, especially
Jack Cafferty, I watch MSNBC until Lou Dobbs comes on.
I used to love CNN.
Oooh, my! Doesn't it seem like Obama's supporters are the sorest winners? I mean for crying out loud you won and the topic of debate isn't if it was fair or not it's how the campaign is moving forward and the sense of supremacy that he and his current base of supporters can do it all alone. You won't get Clinton voters by being continually vengeful nor will you win the white house. By and large all Hillary's supporters and surrogates have been kind and gracious and respectful of Obama which is a sign of her leadership from the top all the way down and Obama camp has been completely the opposite... Grow up ... I don't like him as the nominee and if you want me or people like me to "SHOW UP" to vote for you in November stop kicking us because you already won... Thanks!
I'm laughing my head off! If Bill campaigns for Obama the same way he did for his wife then Obama might as well suspend his campaign now. He won't have a prayer!
Hey Lisa...you're like the Knight in Monte Python....it's mearly a flesh wound.
Why not leave Bill alone, he had lost his diginity.
Poor Clintons, this has got to be killing them. They hate Obama and know he's so wrong on everything, but they got to bite the bullet for the so called good of the party.
We'll see how long this lasts.......
As a former Bill Clinton supporter, I say to Mr. Clinton – No thanks, we don't need or want your "support". And one other thing: Don't let the door knob hit you on the way out.
Your behaviour during this campaign was shameful and disgraceful and I can no longer even stand the sight of you or your family.
Please just go away – you missed your opportunity to do some real good for this country and I believe your legacy will suffer for it.
How sad when someone who was once the force for change becomes the very thing that needs to be changed.
I guess that's what happens when you outlive your usefullness.
I hope that the corrupt tactics of the Obama campaign, the vitriol of his supporters, and the blatent abuses of authoritity by the DNC to fix this primary for Obama, DO NOT GET REWARDED WITH A NOV WIN.
That would set the standard for all future primaries to be dirty, hateful, racebaiting and biased.
I want to preserve freedom, justice, equality and fair campaigning.
Please Bill! DO go out and campaign for Obama! I'm sure it will help him tremendously, just like your million gaffes helped your wife in the primaries!
The Clintons have no choice but to publicly support Obama. I will not be swayed by anything they say; after all they have a virtual gun to their heads. If Obama wants my vote (and I am not sure he does), he must convince me himself.
Welcome aboard President Clinton.
Democrats unite!
The Obomanuts are out in full force today slamming anybody that has a opinion. Well slam all they want it still boils down to who a person checks on the ballot. MY check goes for McCain because as a democrat i can no longer support the way the party is run, and the DNC is responsible for that. Democrat for McCain