Politics & Government

Poll: Did Clinton's Speech Help President Obama?

Former President Bill Clinton gave a rousing speech -- as evidenced by a cheering and chanting crowd. But, did it do its job?

Democrats wrapped up a second day of the national convention in Charlote, N.C., on Sept. 5. The keynote speaker was former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton and President Barack Obama have not always gotten along - take four years ago, for example. Then, Hillary Clinton wanted to be president, too, and there was a fiery battle to the nomination.

Nowadays, Clinton is behind Obama. And, he got a few comedic jabs to the Republican Party just to make sure it was clear.

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"People ask me all the time how we delivered four surplus budgets," he said in a prepared statement. "What new ideas did we bring? I always give a one-word answer: arithmetic."

His speech lifted the audience to its feet a number of times and had them chanting "four more years, four more years," as Clinton focused on economic growth, health concerns and working together.

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Sure, he said, the economy is not where many want it to be, but it is better and getting better all the time, and that if given more time, that change will be more evident. No president - not even him - could have fixed what Obama found "in just four years," he said.

"We believe that 'we're all in this together' is a far better philosophy than 'you're on your own,'" former President Bill Clinton told the Democratic delegation.

In the closing part of his speech, Clinton said "we champion the cause for which our founders pledged their lives, their fortunes, their sacred honor."

Later ABC News commentators said it was a "powerful" speech, "part professor, part preacher.'" Others said it was "anti-Wall Street" and missing key details.

So, what do you think? Did Clinton's speech help his one-time rival? How should the campaign use him going forward? Let us know in the comment section and in our poll.

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