Bruce Springsteen is once again stumping for Barack Obama despite just recently saying that he was wary of publicly supporting the president on the campaign trail. Springsteen joined former President Bill Clinton at a rally in Cleveland on Thursday.
Last week, Springsteen announced he would perform at Obama campaign rallies in the swing states of Ohio and Iowa. Wednesday he made his endorsement of the president official. Springsteen wrote on his website:
“This presidential election is different than the last one because President Obama has a four year record to run on. Last time around, he carried with him a tremendous amount of hope and expectations. Unfortunately, due to the economic chaos the previous administration left him with, and the extraordinary intensity of the opposition, it turned into a really rough ride. But through grit, determination, and focus, the President has been able to do a great many things that many of us deeply support.”
Springsteen continues on to discuss Obama’s foreign policy successes, the right’s attempts to suppress voters, and the importance of voting in congressional elections to help the president regain control of Congress.
The musician has not shied away from sharing his political beliefs over the course of his career. He campaigned for Sen. John Kerry in 2004 and for the president in 2008. He has also composed various hit songs focusing on the economy, social issues and religious issues, singing often from the world of the working class. Some critics even say his latest album, "Wrecking Ball," is the anthem of the Occupy movement.
Springsteen ended his letter calling Obama "our best choice."
“For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together. We’re still living through very hard times but justice, equality and real freedom are not always a tide rushing in.”