FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama is getting a little help from former President Bill Clinton at a trio of campaign fundraisers in New York. The presidential duo will speak at a high-dollar fundraiser at a private home, then headline a gala at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Obama and Clinton will end the night at an event dubbed "Barack on Broadway" at the New Amsterdam Theatre. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - In this Dec. 10, 2010 file photo, President Barack Obama, accompanied by former President Bill Clinton in the briefing room of the White House in Washington. President Barack Obama is getting a little help from former President Bill Clinton at a trio of campaign fundraisers in New York. The presidential duo will speak at a high-dollar fundraiser at a private home, then headline a gala at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Obama and Clinton will end the night at an event dubbed "Barack on Broadway" at the New Amsterdam Theatre. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
FILE - In this Jan. 14, 2011 file photo, President Barack Obama laughs with former President Bill Clinton in Washington. President Barack Obama is getting a little help from former President Bill Clinton at a trio of campaign fundraisers in New York. The presidential duo will speak at a high-dollar fundraiser at a private home, then headline a gala at the Waldorf Astoria hotel. Obama and Clinton will end the night at an event dubbed "Barack on Broadway" at the New Amsterdam Theatre. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Marine One, with President Barack Obama aboard, takes off from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 4, 2012, on his way to attend fundraisers in New York City. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
President Barack Obama walks out of Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Monday, June 4, 2012, to the Marine One on the South Lawn, on his way to attend fundraisers in New York City. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama sought to take advantage Monday of the fundraising prowess of former President Bill Clinton, the most reliable deliverer of Democratic dollars, despite their history of testy relations and differences on campaign tactics.
Tied with his likely Republican challenger in the polls and facing a summer of economic uncertainty that could pull the United States back toward recession, Obama needs the help.
Clinton and Obama were sharing top billing at a trio of events in New York City, bringing hundreds of thousands of dollars to Obama's re-election campaign.
The two have patched over a personal rift from the 2008 campaign when Obama defeated Hillary Rodham Clinton in a bitter Democratic primary. But Clinton caused some heartburn in Obama's campaign last week by remarking that Republican Mitt Romney had a "sterling" business record ? an assertion that undercut Democrats' criticism of Romney's decisions at the private equity firm Bain Capital.
Clinton's larger point was that Obama is the better choice to steer the economy, and the White House denied that Clinton "made news." Still, the televised remark gave Republicans campaign gold just as the government released a disappointing report saying the United States created far fewer new jobs in May than expected ? a big political blow for Obama.
Obama and Clinton also are on opposite sides of a close Democratic congressional primary contest in New Jersey. Clinton also campaigned last week for Wisconsin Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett. Barrett faces Republican Gov. Scott Walker in a special recall election contest on Tuesday but has seen little backing from the Democratic Party or its standard-bearer, Obama.
Still, Clinton's ability to deliver campaign dollars and his record as a sound campaign strategist make him an asset to the Obama campaign that apparently outweighs any drawbacks.
Obama campaign bundler and billionaire investor Marc Lasry was holding an exclusive reception Monday night, followed by a gala at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. The evening was to conclude with an event dubbed "Barack on Broadway" at the New Amsterdam Theatre. Obama will return to Manhattan next week for a fundraiser at the home of "Sex and the City" actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
Asked about Clinton's comments on Romney, White House press secretary Jay Carney said the "issue isn't whether someone succeeded in the private equity world where the purpose is to maximize profits for investors and shareholders. The question is whether that is the right vision for creating jobs."
Clinton and Obama were focusing their message Monday on economic opportunity. Polls show that economic trends are likely to determine the election, a development that could help Romney if the economy sags significantly. Obama and Romney were tied at 46 percent in Gallup polling last week of national election preferences.
Obama's campaign released a video of campaign manager Jim Messina urging supporters to "stay focused, work hard and ignore the ups and downs." The campaign included a map listing eight undecided states: Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Ohio, Virginia, North Carolina, New Hampshire and Florida.
Clinton recently predicted for CNN an Obama victory in November by 5 or 6 points, with the economy the determining factor. The interview also revisited the two men's different characterizations of Romney's record running Bain Capital, and the role of super-rich private investors. Clinton said such firms can do "good work" and should not be demonized across the board. He also said Romney had had a good business career.
"The real issue ought to be, what has Gov. Romney advocated in the campaign that he will do as president? What has President Obama done and what does he propose to do? How do these things stack up against each other?" Clinton said. "That's the most relevant thing."
Lasry, head of the hedge fund Avenue Capital, told CNBC last week that private capital investment as practiced by Bain Capital can do worthwhile things. He shrugged off Obama's recent references to investment choices he claims have ravaged jobs for the sake of investors' profits.
"I think it's politics," Lasry said.
About 50 people were expected at Lasry's home for the $40,000-per-ticket reception. Tickets to a 500-person gala at the Waldorf-Astoria began at $2,500. Those who contribute $35,800 or raise $100,000 get access to a smaller reception with Obama.
The concert at the New Amsterdam Theater was expected to draw 1,700 people. Tickets for that event started at $250, the Obama campaign said.
Three winners of an online ticket contest will attend both the gala and concert and were expected to meet the current and former presidents.
While Obama was in New York, Romney was on the West Coast to attend fundraisers in Portland, Ore., and Seattle.
Monday night was not the first joint fundraising appearance by Obama and Clinton. The two appeared together and addressed supporters in late April at the Virginia home of Clinton adviser Terry McAuliffe.
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