As the presidential race tightens up in the final stretch, the Obama campaign is bringing out the big guns on the campaign trail to ensure a victory in November. Former president Bill Clinton and legendary rocker Bruce Springsteen joined forces today at a rally in the crucial battleground state of Ohio, where they whipped up support for the president’s re-election.
Appearing in Parma, on the outskirts of Cleveland, the man Obama nicknamed the “Explainer-in-Chief” gave a speech where he simultaneously reaffirmed his faith in the country and bashed Mitt Romney, before ceding the stage to Springsteen.
“I was born in the U.S.A. and unlike one of the candidates, I keep all my money here,” Clinton said, in reference to Romney’s bank accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands.
Clinton reminded supporters of Romney’s opposition to the auto bailout, which has been instrumental to Ohio’s economic recovery. “The only person who pretended to know anything about [the auto bailout] who didn’t support it was Gov. Romney,” he said.
“When you were down, when you were out, the president had your back,” Clinton added. “You’ve got to have his back now.”
“This is not complicated for me,” he said. “If somebody saved my economy, I’d be for him.”
Springsteen formally endorsed President Obama today with a statement posted on his website hours before the event.
“Right now, there is a fight going on to help make this a fairer and more equitable nation. For me, President Obama is our best choice to get us and keep us moving in the right direction,” Springsteen wrote. “Right now, we need a President who has a vision that includes all of our citizens, not just some, whether they are our devastated poor, our pressured middle class, and yes, the wealthy too; whether they are male or female, black, white, brown, or yellow, straight or gay, civilian or military.”
Clinton introduced the man known as “The Boss,” calling him one of the most important musicians of the last 50 years, and “one of the coolest dudes on the planet” to boot.
Springsteen has been hailed as a torchbearer of the working class, and a voice of the people.
“I’m here today because I’m concerned about women’s rights. I don’t have to tell you about the dangers to Roe v Wade,” Springsteen said during the performance. Romney has stated he would appoint Supreme Court judges that would overturn the landmark ruling on abortion, and the Romney/Ryan official position is to oppose abortion except in the cases of rape, incest, and danger to the life of the mother.
After today’s performance Springsteen is moving on to Iowa, a swing state where Obama holds a narrow lead. Clinton will continue on to Steubenville, Ohio.
In the latest Real Clear Politics polling average, Obama leads Ohio by a 48.4 to 46 percent margin.
