Clinton leads the electoral progress of Blair

It was a campaign meet, the biggest so far, and significantly at the very start Bill Clinton was brought through live satellite link.

Former US President Bill Clinton was the surprise supporter of Labour Party at the gathering of nearly 2000 at the Old Vic Theatre in Waterloo London, gathered to hear Tony Blair and Chancellor Gordon Brown speak on the World Poverty Day, with special focus on Africa.

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It was an important campaign meet, the biggest so far, and significantly at the very start of the proceedings Bill Clinton was brought through live satellite link to address the audience. There was no doubt who stole the show, even via satellite from 4000 miles away in New York.

Whistles, screaming and cheering greeted his appearance, signalling the magnetic effect he still has on the people. He swamped Alistair Campbell and Dermot O'Leary of Big Brother who were trying to keep the audience amused until Blair and Brown came.

Clinton's was a polished performance, not only providing an excellent intro for Brown's appeal for help to Africa, but also in weaving a political ecstasy for Labour. It was reminiscent of the effect he had on the Labour delegates at the Blackpool annual party conference a few years ago, as the chief guest.

It was in fact, the first time that a President incumbent or otherwise has endorsed a candidate during a British election. He was "delighted to be part of this event and to support Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and the rest of the Labour team". He added, " If you do value the progress you've made in Britain, then you have to vote for your values. That takes leadership. Tony Blair and Gordon Brown and new Labour are providing that leadership."

There could not be any stronger endorsement and it had an impact. There were cries of encore, Bill, as his face faded from the wide screen. The compare of the event, Ms June Saprong, presenter of Channel 4, observed the Times correspondent, "looked ready to faint".

For the duo Blair and Brown who seem to have entered into an alliance of convenience for the May 5 General Election it was hard to keep the level of ecstasy Clinton left behind. But they did something like a matinee duo act to convince everybody that if Blair could preside over the July 8 G8 meet he would influence the rich nations to help the poor ones. In other words they asked to be voted to power again.

The way Blair sought an open support from Clinton made it appear that he believed US presidents past or present, have influence on voters here. But the fact is that he wanted to signal he had parted the company of President Bush.

Blair would rather risk losing Bush's support than alienating not only the Muslims because of his Iraq aggression but also causing division in his party already fragmented over the issue of the legality of Britain joining the war.

Blair has been clever to get Clinton, who has a major following here, especially among women. This is crucial because women who largely helped Blair come to power the last two times with huge majority are presently unhappy with him. As the Times correspondent noted that when Clinton came on the screen apart from screaming and whistling " in the case of some young women (in the audience), uttering that strangulated ululation usually reserved for Rock stars".

Some past snippets

Roland Reagan and Margaret Thatcher were very close in the 80s. Both were in fact personal friends, so much so, that despite her frail health she flew to Washington to attend his funeral. But Reagan could and never did influence her election. In fact when her own parties ousted her, no help came from across the Atlantic. In any case it would have not worked.

When John Major won in 1992, the Bush senior was seen as a friend. But Major won by the narrowest of margins, a majority of just 26.

In 1997, Blair won because of the sad state of the Tories. It was later as PM that he became a friend of Clinton. But he did help Blair indirectly at the last election by coming to the party's annual conference before the polls.

The sign of things to come

In the present election, Clinton has openly endorsed Blair's election. It has to be seen how much it would help. He could win women votes for Blair and make Labour voters and leaders angry at Bush-Blair alliance, hope that Bush will not be able to influence Blair anymore.

By bringing in Clinton he has signalled that in policy-making, Bush will not count anymore.