The Hindu : International : Clinton woos voters for Kerry

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Oct 26, 2004

International

International

Clinton woos voters for Kerry

PHILADELPHIA (U.S.), OCT. 25 . A smiling, energetic former President Bill Clinton campaigned for Democratic Senator John Kerry on Monday, telling a crowd of thousands that the President, George W. Bush and Republicans were trying to ``scare the undecided voters'' away from the Democratic nominee.

``If this isn't good for my heart, I don't know what is,'' Mr. Clinton said of the enthusiastic response from the lunchtime crowd just seven weeks after he underwent heart surgery.

Democratic strategists hoped Mr. Clinton's appearance in the final days of the campaign would provide a jolt of excitement that would help energise the Democratic base and attract the undecided voters who had supported Mr. Clinton.

`Comeback country'

``From time to time, I have been called the comeback kid. In eight days, John Kerry is going to make America the comeback country,'' Mr. Clinton said to cheers. The former two-term President said he recognised that ``no one's presence can change a single vote, but I hope my reasons can affect a few votes.''

The Republicans are ``trying to scare the undecided voters about John Kerry and they're trying to scare the decided voters away from the polls,'' said Mr. Clinton, who also planned a solo campaign event in Florida later on Monday. He criticised Mr. Bush for ``more of the same'' bad policies.

Mr. Clinton and Mr. Kerry walked on stage together, with Mr. Clinton taking a quick step up as a blizzard of confetti filled the air.

The former President smiled, waved and shook hands with some of those in the crowd at Love Park in downtown Philadelphia. Some supporters waved signs with the number ``8,'' signifying the number of days left to the election.

Thunderous applause

``Isn't it great to have Bill Clinton back on the trail?'' Mr. Kerry said, drawing thunderous applause. He drew cheers of delight when he said that he had asked Mr. Clinton ``if there's anything you have in common with George W. Bush? He thought for a moment and he said, 'In eight days and 12 hours, we will both be former Presidents.'''

Looking thinner but speaking in a strong, but slightly hoarse voice, Mr. Clinton assailed Mr. Bush on both domestic and national security policy, challenging Mr. Bush's management of the war in Iraq and his presiding over an economy that has lost jobs.

``Our friends on the other side want a world where they concentrate wealth and power on the far right ... and cooperate with others only when they want to,'' Mr. Clinton said.

``We can do better and in eight days we're going to do better with President John Kerry,'' Mr. Clinton said. _ AP

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