Bill Clinton rallies for Illinois Democrats

Bill Clinton rallies for Illinois Democrats
AP/ M. Spencer Green
Bill Clinton rallies for Illinois Democrats
AP/ M. Spencer Green

Bill Clinton rallies for Illinois Democrats

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Former President Bill Clinton was in Chicago Tuesday stumping for Illinois Democrats.

Mr. Clinton spoke for about 52 minutes at the downtown Chicago Palmer House Hilton Hotel. At times, his speech sounded more like a college professor’s lecture than a rallying cry for Democrats.

Mr. Clinton addressed the polls around the country, which by and large show Democrats struggling. “And I’ve seen this movie before,” he said. “This is what happened in ‘94 when the Republicans said, ‘Stop thinking. Be mad. You hired Bill Clinton to fix it. You don’t feel fixed yet. Vote them all out.‘”

Mr. Clinton defended legislation the Democratic-controlled Congress has passed, including the stimulus bill and health care reform. Mr. Clinton was joined on stage by Illinois Democrats who are in tight races, including Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Governor Pat Quinn, U.S. Representatives Bill Foster and Debbie Halvorson and Congressional hopeful Dan Seals.