Clinton leads California rally

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 24 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton urged Californians to send Democrats to Washington during a Tuesday night rally at the University of California-Irvine.

Clinton told a cheering crowd of 5,000 students and other supporters that it is really important that "we get the best Congress we can to make the most of the next four years," the Los Angeles Times reported Wednesday.

The former president has been hop-scotching across the country campaigning for President Barack Obama and Democratic congressional candidates.

Clinton spoke for just over 30 minutes, spending most of his time criticizing Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney and praising five Democrats running for Congress from California.

The event was sponsored by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.