Bill Clinton - Asset or Liability for Obama

First let me start off by saying that to me this is a "no-brainer." Former President Bill Clinton will most definitely be an asset to Barack Obama's campaign for President. There, now that we have that admitted bias out of the way, let me tell you why I believe this. For now take all the Clinton negatives out of your head for this exercise, we'll get to them.

William Jefferson Clinton is the only Democrat elected for two consecutive terms to the office of the President of the United States in recent times. There is an excellent reason for this. He was and continues to be exceedingly popular not only to Democrats but to a specific demographic that is important to the Obama campaign at this point, the struggling lower - middle class and the poor. This is a particularly strong asset especially if Obama doesn't choose Hilary Clinton to be his running mate. So when the Obama campaign issues a statement saying that they expect the former President to play a big role, they would be best to mean it. Dispatching him to economically struggling states like Ohio, Pennsylvania and Michigan is a likely scenario according to political experts.

While Bill Clinton's popularity took a hit during the primaries, according to the Associated Press, half of all respondents to an AP-Yahoo poll this month, still view him favorably. Resilience is the Clinton trademark and Bill Clinton leads most politicians in that regard. Throw a wrench at a Clinton and they come out smiling, standing tall, and usually favorably. Do the same to Obama and his stature shrinks. This is a huge thing for the plus column during the general election. The Clintons know better than most folks how to handle nasty, Republican, overblown, smear tactics. Is there a business deal in your closet? A woman you can't recall or a joint you wished you hadn't smoked? Blue dress? See what I mean?

No one is a better campaigner than Bill Clinton. His wife comes close, perhaps the younger George Bush. Take my word for it, I've seen W on the stump, I liked him and I'm a life long Democrat. That's the short list of world class campaigners in this country. Yes, I know Barack Obama has charisma but it's on the preachy side, and his Harvard education gets in the way sometimes - remember the "bitterness" remark? Bill bleeds charisma. Grown men stand in awe and women drool. Sounds far fetched doesn't it? I swear you start to believe that Elvis entered the building when you go to one of his campaign speeches.

Bill Clinton is respected world wide for his foreign policy experience and diplomacy. Obama is generally regarded as inexperienced when it comes to these things. The President we presently have comes up short and the opinion of our great country has taken a beating since 9-11. Clinton's endorsement of Obama provides automatic credibility in the world arena. Of course, adding Hillary to the ticket would be even better.

Peace, prosperity, resilience and charisma. I'll take those. Wouldn't you?

Now for the negatives. Oh, that blue dress; the go no where Whitewater thing; the lie about the blow job; and perhaps a few other things like unreasonable hatred from the opposition. Go there if you insist but watch your step on the way. None of us should be casting a stone anymore in that direction. Been there, done that as they say, it doesn't matter. After all that hullabaloo, Bill Clinton left the Presidency with one of, if not the, highest approval ratings in the history of those rating things.

I for one am going to consider setting aside my "bitterness" and my disappointment as a woman and an almost senior citizen. How about you?