NORWALK -- Saying the $787 billion stimulus package spurred green energy industries, former
President Bill Clinton urged voters to keep U.S. Rep. Jim Himes and other Democratic lawmakers in place to continue policies that will improve the economy.
"We are coming back, don't put it at risk,"
Clinton told about 800 party supporters at a Halloween night campaign rally at the South Norwalk Field House.
Clinton drew applause as he praised the Democratic candidates at the rally, which was intended to boost voter turnout to fend off strong GOP challenges on Election Day on Tuesday
"No matter the speed of the economic recovery of this awful downturn there is only one candidate for governor on the ballot who has created jobs, 5,000 in Stamford," Clinton said of
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dannel Malloy, the former Stamford mayor.
Clinton said
Republicans have unfairly maligned
President Barack Obama and legislators who have supported him, managing to transfer blame for much of the Great Recession, which was the result of Wall Street mismanagement and the federal deficit run up from 2000 to 2008.
"It should give you pause before you toss the crowd that is in and the crowd that dug you in a hole in the first place,"
Clinton said. "We need to remember these financial crises are particularly stubborn, but how are we doing? We've recovered 70 percent of our lost GDP which is better than many of our competitors."
Clinton praised Himes for helping implement financial regulatory reform on Wall Street firms to increase the reserve requirements for investment firms, and restricting bailouts.
"This is a huge deal," said
Clinton, who took the stage after 10 p.m. and spoke for about 45 minutes. "Nobody knows that the Democratic Congress eliminated bailouts. It's been a factless election."
Clinton stumped for Malloy in Hartford earlier Sunday. The events came a day after
Obama appeared at a rally at the Arena of Harbor Yard which drew about 9,000 spectators.
Clinton encouraged young people who provided the basis for Obama's victory in 2008 to talk to their friends to try to fire them up to vote Democratic .
Standing alongside Clinton, Himes, D-4th District, told the
Democratic faithful that they needed to support himself and other candidates to continue policies that have helped start an economic recovery.
"We have a choice Tuesday of whether this nation will move backward or move forward," Himes said. "We've made a lot of positive changes in the past two years, picking up on the echoes of what was accomplished by this great president."
Malloy worked up the crowd waiting for Clinton by urging them to vote for Himes, himself, and other candidates trying to win tight races.
"The Republicans still want to go backward and we want to go forward," Malloy said. "We can't afford to give this seat back to those people who drove this country into the ditch."
Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal, who faces former World Wrestling Entertainment executive Linda McMahon, said everyone in the room needed to ensure they urge their family and friends to vote.
"This election is historic," Blumenthal said. ". . . All those causes that will determine whether our grandchildren have a better future are being decided."
Leslie McQueen, 46, of Bridgeport, and other Democrats said they worried that a surge in frustration with the rate of economic recovery could undo Himes Tuesday, a setback to preserving health care-reform and other policies adopted during Obama's first term.
"The president has a very ambitious agenda and there is very little bi-partisan cooperation in Washington," McQueen said. "It's very important that we vote."
Himes is attempting to fend of a strong challenge from his
Republican opponent, state. Sen. Dan Debicella, a Bridgeport native who has run a campaign critical of Obama's health care reform and the financial stimulus.
In 2008, Himes failed to carry his hometown of Greenwich, but rode Obama's cresting popularity to beat then-incumbent U.S. Rep Christopher Shays by nearly 23,000 votes in Bridgeport, and more than 6,000 in Norwalk.
Jeff Becker and Johanna Schicke,
Democrats from Easton, said Himes has been a good representative for the state, making important contributions in adopting Wall Street regulations.
Becker, 50, said he was frustrated with what seems like
Republican lawmakers blocking legislative initiatives and refusing to work across party lines.
"I certainly hope we don't get the
Republicans back again," he said. "What is going on in Washington doesn't even seem like gridlock, it is just obstruction."