FILE - In this April 7, 2011 file photo, Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, left, and Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel share a moment at a Chicago White Sox game at U.S. Cellular Field in Chicago. When the former White House chief of staff takes over Monday, May 16, a new vibe will emanate from City Hall. Whereas Daley preferred a low-key social life and tended toward the trench coat look, Emanuel is frequently spotted in jeans in the city�s vibrant arts and cultural scene, presenting what promises to be a hipper image for the city. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel says former President Bill Clinton will help Democrats offer a clear vision of the future when he takes the podium at the Democratic National Convention.

Emanuel tells NBC's "Today" that Clinton faced the same early struggles battling Republicans as Obama has. But after Clinton was re-elected in 1996, Republicans began to work with the president, leading to a balanced budget agreement.

Emanuel, who served both presidents, says he expects Obama would win the same type of cooperation from Republicans if he wins a second term. Democrats are eager to portray Obama's economic policies as mirroring those of Clinton, who presided during a time of prosperity.

Clinton has been actively campaigning for Obama and will offer the president's name for nomination on Wednesday night.
Associated Press
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