Bill Clinton to hit campaign trail, fundraise for Obama - CBS News

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(CBS News) The Obama campaign tells CBS News that former President, Bill Clinton has agreed to campaign for President Barack Obama in the key battleground states of Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nevada and New Hampshire. He's even agreed to do fundraisers in October.

It's something the Obama campaign needs and they were delighted, CBS News has learned.

Special section: Campaign 2012

The Obama campaign had talked about the idea of the former president campaigning, but it was President Obama who actually asked Clinton to his the campaign trail on his behalf.

CBS News has been told the two men hung out together backstage for quite a while after Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention last week and have put aside any reported differences for their mutual benefit.

Clinton is going to kick off a campaign event and introduce President Obama on Tuesday night in Miami then again Wednesday in Orlando.

Florida is the kind of swing state where Clinton's favorability rating, which is 69 percent, could help the president across the board, not only persuading reluctant white working class voters, but also energizing new voters and volunteers.

Ryan brings Romney campaign new energy

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(CBS News) ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - It was an emotional homecoming for Rep. Paul Ryan on Sunday. The Wisconsin congressman wiped away tears as thousands cheered for the native son, now the Republican nominee for vice president.

"My veins run with cheese, bratwurst, and a little Spotted Cow, Leiney's, and some Miller," Ryan said.

Presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney announced Ryan as his running mate Saturday.

(Click the player at left to see Romney and Ryan's first joint interview, with CBS News' Bob Schieffer.

Not only in Wisconsin, but at every stop they made, team Romney/Ryan drew overflow crowds. Ryan's nomination refocused the race onto substance, and it brought out a new energy in Romney, who took aim at President Obama.

60 Minutes: Romney and Ryan: The first interview
Who is Paul Ryan?
Special Section: Romney's vice presidential choice

"Mr. President, take your campaign out of the gutter," Romney said. "Let's talk about the real issues that America faces."

For his part, the president welcomed Ryan to the race, and then returned fire.

(Click on the player at left to see Mr. Obama's remarks)

"My opponent and Congressman Ryan and their allies in Congress, they all believe that if we just get rid of more regulations on big corporations and we give more tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans, it will lead to jobs and prosperity to everybody else," Mr. Obama said.

The Obama campaign made its strategy clear - quickly trying to connect Romney to Ryan's plan to dramatically cut the budget, reign in spending and reform Medicare.

Ryan's plan would replace the current system with a voucher program that critics argue could leave seniors paying more.

But Republicans were ready for the attack, saying they were trying to save Medicare before it goes bust and blaming the president for Medicare cuts.

"He stole $700 billion from Medicare to fund Obamacare," Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said Sunday on "Meet the Press."

"If any person in this entire debate has blood on their hands in regard to Medicare, it's Barack Obama. He's the one that's destroying Medicare," argued Priebus

Jan Crawford Jan Crawford is CBS News Chief Political and Legal Correspondent. She is from "Crossroads," Alabama.

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