Obama advises Bill Clinton on his role in campaign

BY GLENN THRUSH | glenn.thrush@newsday.com

July 1, 2008

WASHINGTON - Look who's finally talking.

Barack Obama called Bill Clinton yesterday to discuss his role in the upcoming general election campaign - and to counter perceptions that the Democratic Party's main alpha males can't get along.

"President Clinton had a very good conversation with Senator Obama today," said Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna, describing the 20-minute phone chat.

"He renewed his offer to do whatever he can to ensure Senator Obama is our next president."

Clinton recently raised eyebrows by endorsing Obama via e-mail - and he didn't immediately return messages left by the presumptive Democratic nominee last week.

The former president was in Europe last week, skipping a unity rally in New Hampshire last Friday, but he vowed yesterday to join Obama on the trail - without specifying when.

"President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for him ... in the months to come," McKenna added.

Obama - whose rivalry with Bill Clinton was as intense as his battle with Hillary Rodham Clinton - praised the former president after repeatedly questioning his tactics during the primary.

Obama "has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation's great leaders and most brilliant minds, and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton.

As Obama moved closer to the Clintons he sought to distance himself from longtime Clinton supporter Gen. Wesley Clark. On Sunday, Clark derided John McCain's foreign policy experience, saying, "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to become president."

McCain, speaking to reporters yesterday, said, "The important thing is that if that's the kind of campaign that Senator Obama and his surrogates and his supporters want to engage in, I understand that."

Obama told reporters that "no one should ever devalue" McCain's service, "especially for the sake of a political campaign."

A spokesman later said Obama "honors and respects Senator McCain's service, and, of course, he rejects yesterday's statement by General Clark."