Clinton entrusts his legacy to Obama

DENVER (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton has entrusted his presidential legacy to the keeping of Barack Obama, finally admitting the Democratic nominee into his band of believers “in a place called Hope.”

After wife Hillary’s stinging Democratic primary defeat left him feuding with chunks of his own party, Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday was about more than endorsing the new nominee.

Clinton was also coming home to his party, which long before Obama came along, feted him as its darling, and always took him back despite a string of scandals before, during and after his presidency.

“I love this, and I thank you, but we have important work to do tonight,” Clinton said, as thousands of supporters chanted “Bill, Bill, Bill!”

The music bracketing Clinton’s speech encapsulated his theme.

As he strode onto the stage, waving, the band played Fleetwood Mac’s “Don’t Stop (thinking about tomorrow),” his 1992 campaign theme. When he was done, the band struck up a version of U2’s “Beautiful Day” - Obama’s campaign anthem.

In between, Clinton weaved a path between his own political creed, of centrist “feel your pain” economics which he took from humble beginnings in Hope, Arkansas to the White House and Obama’s hope-fuelled platform.