Bill Clinton campaigns for Barrett

AP Modified

Updated: Jun 1, 2012 5:40 PM

MILWAUKEE — Former President Bill Clinton aimed to fire up Democrats in Milwaukee Friday morning, just four days before a recall election targeting Republican Gov. Scott Walker.

Clinton's visit to the Democratic stronghold and home city of Walker's challenger, Milwaukee's Mayor Tom Barrett, marks the latest in a string of high-profile Democrats who have campaigned on his behalf in recent days.

Clinton told the crowd of about 1,000 people at Pere Marquette Park that Tuesday's election is about much more than the state of Wisconsin and what's best for its residents.

Clinton said the key to economic success is cooperation.

"You have a choice here. I think it's pretty simple. You want creative cooperation? That's what's working here in America and everywhere in the world," said Clinton.

He also said Wisconsin will improve if Barrett wins because his plan is not "divide and conquer."

Lack of compromise in politics, Clinton said, is a "road to a dead end."

"You tell them Wisconsin has never been about that and won't be about that by electing Tom Barrett governor," said Clinton.

The crowd was mostly supporting Barrett. One lone Walker supporter stood in the middle of the crowd holding a sign.

Clinton was preceded at the podium by state senators Lena Taylor and Jon Erpenbach.

Congresswoman Gwen Moore also spoke, firing up the crowd with a rendition of the song "Hit the road Jack," inserting Scott Walker's name.

Clinton is the biggest Democratic name to visit Wisconsin in the truncated recall campaign. President Barack Obama has kept his distance from the union fight as his own re-election efforts near this fall. Wisconsin, with its 10 electoral votes, is a key part of his path to victory.

Walker is campaigning Friday with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. She calls herself a "union buster" and considers her state's low union membership rate an economic development tool.

The recall election is next Tuesday, June 5th.

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