Bill Clinton: 'I ... support Barack Obama'

DENVER, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- Former U.S. President Bill Clinton, buoyed by Democratic delegates' cheers in Denver Wednesday, joined his wife's call to unite behind Barack Obama.

"I am here, first, to support Barack Obama," Clinton told the Democratic National Convention attendees. "And second, I'm here to warm up the crowd for Joe Biden," Obama's running mate.

"Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she's going to do what she can to elect Barack Obama," Clinton said. "That makes two of us. Actually, that makes 18 million of us because like Hillary, I want all of you who supported her to vote for Barack Obama in November."

The United States faces trouble on two fronts, Clinton said.

"The American dream is under siege at home and American leadership in the world has been weakened," he said. "Clearly, the job of the next president is to rebuild the American dream and to restore American leadership in the world. Everything I learned in my eight years as president and work done since ... convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job."

Clinton said Sen. John McCain of Arizona, Obama's presumptive Republican opponent, would continue the policies of President George Bush.

"Let's send them a message," Clinton said, "Thanks but no thanks."

Obama will restore hope and unity for the United States, he said.

"So if, like me, you believe America must always be a place called Hope," Clinton said, "then join Hillary and Chelsea and me in making Barack Obama the next president of the United States.