Clinton stumps for Kerry

WASHINGTON Former president Bill Clinton made his long-awaited comeback to the campaign trail yesterday, boosting fellow Democrat John Kerry’s campaign in the final week of the deadlocked White House race.

Clinton was due to appear with Kerry at a rally in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, just seven weeks after undergoing quadruple bypass heart surgery. He is scheduled to stump for Kerry in Florida and in the western United States later in the week.The Kerry camp is hoping the former president – still hugely popular with Democrats despite the sex scandal that tarnished his presidency – will inspire the party faithful to turn out in droves on November 2, when turnout could tip the balance in the close-fought race.Clinton played down health concerns in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.Asked whether he was taking a risk by campaigning so soon after surgery, Clinton said, “No, I don’t think so….I think it’s important, and because the differences between the two candidates and the courses they will pursue in the next four years are so profound.”Democrats hailed their former leader’s return.”President Clinton has enormous standing with the base of the Democratic party.He will energise it.He has incredible numbers, almost unbelievable numbers with African-Americans for example.So I think he will bring enormous energy to the Democratic Party base,” Kerry adviser Tad Devine told Fox television.White House communications director Dan Bartlett said Clinton’s return revealed Kerry’s weakness.”The fact that John Kerry’s going to have to roll him off the surgery table and onto the campaign trail demonstrates a revealing aspect, that he’s underperforming in key parts of his own constituency,” Bartlett told Fox.- Nampa-AFPHe is scheduled to stump for Kerry in Florida and in the western United States later in the week.The Kerry camp is hoping the former president – still hugely popular with Democrats despite the sex scandal that tarnished his presidency – will inspire the party faithful to turn out in droves on November 2, when turnout could tip the balance in the close-fought race.Clinton played down health concerns in an interview with ABC News on Sunday.Asked whether he was taking a risk by campaigning so soon after surgery, Clinton said, “No, I don’t think so….I think it’s important, and because the differences between the two candidates and the courses they will pursue in the next four years are so profound.”Democrats hailed their former leader’s return.”President Clinton has enormous standing with the base of the Democratic party.He will energise it.He has incredible numbers, almost unbelievable numbers with African-Americans for example.So I think he will bring enormous energy to the Democratic Party base,” Kerry adviser Tad Devine told Fox television.White House communications director Dan Bartlett said Clinton’s return revealed Kerry’s weakness.”The fact that John Kerry’s going to have to roll him off the surgery table and onto the campaign trail demonstrates a revealing aspect, that he’s underperforming in key parts of his own constituency,” Bartlett told Fox.- Nampa-AFP