Clinton: Dems battling anger, apathy and amnesia

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton says it would be a "terrible mistake" for Arkansas voters to defeat Democratic Sen. Blanche Lincoln and lose her post chairing the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Clinton returned to his home state on Wednesday to rally support for Lincoln's re-election bid and to raise money for two Democratic congressional hopefuls.

Clinton said Lincoln can overcome the odds and win re-election if she addresses the issues and Democrats don't focus on anger, apathy and amnesia. Clinton acknowledged that Lincoln faces a tough fight.

Lincoln is running against Republican Congressman John Boozman in the November election. Most polls show Lincoln badly trailing Boozman, even though she has raised more money. Clinton headlined an event marking Lincoln's one-year anniversary as chairwoman of the Agriculture Committee.

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton said Wednesday that Democrats must avoid coming across as defensive and focus on issues rather than "anger, apathy and amnesia" in order to win back voters before the November election.

Clinton spoke during a trip to his home state to help Arkansas Democratic U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln, who Clinton acknowledged may be the most endangered incumbent in Washington this year. Most polls show Lincoln badly trailing her Republican challenger, U.S. Rep. John Boozman, though she has more money for the race.

Republicans also are targeting two congressional seats in Arkansas left open by retiring Democrats.

Clinton said it's not too late for Lincoln and other Democrats.

"I think if she can make it about the issues — what do we need to do and who's most likely to do it — as opposed to anger, apathy and amnesia, I think she still can win this race," Clinton said after hosting a fundraiser for Democrat Joyce Elliott, who's seeking a central Arkansas congressional seat.

Clinton said Democrats need to avoid appearing defensive, particularly on the economy.

"You've got to let people have their anger. People feel helpless, they have a right to be mad. But when you make a decision and you're mad, there's about an 80 percent chance you'll make a mistake," he said.

Clinton planned to headline an event for Lincoln marking her one year anniversary as chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee. He also planned to help raise money for Democrat Chad Causey, who's running for an east Arkansas congressional seat.

Elliott and Causey are running for seats left open in districts that Republicans say they have the best shot at winning in years.

Clinton took a swipe at Elliott's Republican opponent, Tim Griffin, who worked in former President George W. Bush's White House and has been criticized by Democrats for his ties to the controversy surrounding the firings of federal prosecutors.

Griffin was named interim U.S. attorney for eastern Arkansas after Bud Cummins left the post. Cummins later said he was forced out by the U.S. Department of Justice, and his firing was one of several that prompted a congressional inquiry.

"(Elliott's) the only one running who's got a record of really doing things for people, with none of the kind of ethical problems and political abuse of power charges and all those other things that have come out against her opponent," Clinton said. "The main thing is he wants to join that group of people that says they will go back and do the things that got us in trouble in the first place."

Griffin's campaign dismissed Clinton's remarks. Spokesman Ryan James said Arkansas residents might feel differently if Elliott were running for Congress to help Clinton, "but she would be going to help the Obama administration, and that's why Arkansans are rejecting her campaign."

Democrats hope Clinton's visit can help the party as President Barack Obama remains deeply unpopular in the state. Arkansas has voted Republican in the past three presidential elections, but Democrats control the governor's office, the state Legislature, three of four U.S. House seats and both U.S. Senate seats.

Obama hasn't been in the state since 2006, when he helped Gov. Mike Beebe win the governorship. Obama lost Arkansas' 2008 Democratic primary to hometown favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton and lost Arkansas' six electoral votes that fall to Republican presidential nominee John McCain.