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October 30th, 2008 at 12:02 pm

Video & Photos: Bill Clinton Barack Obama Rally Speeches 10-29-08

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton rally in Orlando, Florida, October 29, 2008

Democratic Presidential candidate Senator Barack Obama and former U.S. President Bill Clinton held their first joint campaign rally in Kissimmee, Florida on October 29, 2008. See photos and video of both speeches here. The midnight rally drew 35,000 enthusiastic supporters at Osceola Heritage Park, which is near Orlando, Florida.

The joint appearance and apparent unbridled support by Clinton of Obama took place after months of tension between the candidate and the former President whose wife, Hillary Clinton, lost to Obama in the primary. Clinton’s tepid support of Obama had long been a staple of late-night TV humor. (See: Video: Chris Rock on Bill Clinton and Sarah Palin on Late Show with David Letterman 9-23-08)

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton rally in Orlando, Florida, October 29, 2008

Clinton framed his remarks in the historical context of the relative prosperity of his administration versus the economic downturns of the Bush administration, stating that the administration had “just presided over the biggest redistribution of wealth upwards since the 1920s, and we all know how that ended. So don’t tell me about redistribution.”

Clinton was even more lavish in praise of the presidential candidate than he was at the Democratic convention in August. “We have so much promise and so much peril. This man should be our president,” Clinton said.

Obama, departing from his usual stump speech, was equally warm in return, contrasting Clinton’s record in office with that of George Bush and hailing his economic stewardship. Clinton appeared touched, almost choking with emotion, as he sat listening.

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton rally in Orlando, Florida, October 29, 2008

Deep down they may still not like one another but the two gave a good impression of being best friends.

Two of the most gifted political speakers of the last 50 years, they both demonstrated at the rally how they earned that reputation. Clinton had a looser, more conversational style, while Obama sounded more lofty – but both were effective.

Source: Bill Clinton backs Obama at midnight rally in coveted Florida

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton rally in Orlando, Florida, October 29, 2008

Senator Obama, expressed high praise for the former President. “When you listen to Bill Clinton, you are reminded of what it’s like to have a president who’s passionate, who’s smart . . . who has energy, who has vision,” he said. “You start getting nostalgic about 22 million new jobs and a budget surplus and an economy that’s working for everyone.

Barack Obama, Bill Clinton rally in Orlando, Florida, October 29, 2008

There were also moments of humor. Bill Clinton, for instance, said, “Look at this crowd – it’s not only big, it is highly diverse. You even have a few white haired guys like me – you haven’t cut my demographic out!”

Barack Obama retorted with humor to allegations from the McCain-Palin campaign, namely the VP candidate Alaska Governor Sarah Palin who has repeatedly called Obama a “socialist” and a “redistributor.” He admitted to the crowd that as a child he had shared his toys.

Photo credit: Joe Raedle/Getty Images North America

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