The Trail

BUSY SCHEDULE

Bill Clinton Hits Campaign Trail Hard

Bill Clinton said Monday that he will appear at campaign events for Barack Obama in Florida, Nevada and Ohio and will host Obama fundraisers in New York, California and Ohio. He said he will also join his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, at a campaign event in northeastern Pennsylvania.

Clinton also said he will campaign for Obama in Arkansas. "My crowd down there thinks he could win," the former president said. "If you win Arkansas, you could turn the lights out."

Asked about Sarah Palin, Clinton said he understands why the Alaska governor has emerged as a popular figure among Republicans.

"I come from Arkansas. I get why she's hot out there, why she's doing well," Clinton said. "People look at her, and they say: 'All those kids. Something that happens in everybody's family. I'm glad she loves her daughter and she's not ashamed of her. Glad that girl's going around with her boyfriend. Glad they're going to get married.' "

Clinton added that voters would think: "I like that little Down syndrome kid. One of them lives down the street. They're wonderful children. They're wonderful people. And I like the idea that this guy does those long-distance races. Stayed in the race for 500 miles with a broken arm. My kind of guy."

The "guy" reference was to Palin's husband, Todd, who remained in a snowmobile race after breaking his arm.

-- Philip Rucker

FOREIGN AFFAIRS IMMERSION

Palin to Meet Leaders Gathering at U.N.

GOP vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin will embark Tuesday on a series of meetings with heads of state who have come to New York for the opening ceremony of the U.N. General Assembly.