Third Obama term is a good pitch, Vilsack says

PHILADELPHIA - A member of President Barack Obama's administration since the beginning, Tom Vilsack said Thursday he supports Obama's call to elect Hillary Clinton to continue Democrats' work in the White House despite public polling that shows a large percentage of Americans feel the country is headed in the wrong direction.

Obama gave the keynote address Wednesday to the Democratic National Convention, saying he was 'ready to pass the baton” to Clinton.

But only one-fourth of Americans are satisfied with the way things are going in the country, according to recent Pew Research Center data.

Vilsack, the former Iowa governor who has served as U.S. agriculture secretary, told reporters Thursday that despite those figures, the president should not shy away from making the case for Clinton's election as an extension of his administration.

'I think it's appropriate for (Obama) to make sure that people understand where we were” when he was elected in 2008, Vilsack said. 'We were on the precipice of a serious economic collapse. He saved this country.”

Vilsack also noted that while Americans may not be confident in the country's direction, Obama's recent approval ratings have been solid: 50 percent of Americans approve of the way he is handling his job, while 44 percent disapprove, according to Pew.

Obama's second-term approval average of 46 percent is on par with Ronald Reagan's second-term average of 49 percent; below Bill Clinton's 55 but above George W. Bush's 30 percent.

Vilsack downplayed not being chosen as Hillary Clinton's running mate; she instead chose Tim Kaine, a U.S. senator from Virginia. Vilsack also was in the running to be John Kerry's running mate in 2004.

'As an old trial lawyer, my father-in-law used to say you celebrate your victories for 24 hours and you mourn your losses for 24 hours,” Vilsack said. 'With the importance of this race, I only took 12.”

Vilsack, whose duties as ag secretary will end with Obama's term in January, said he is focused on the election and not a possible role in a Clinton administration, should she win.

'I told people, I'll wash the dishes, I'll take the trash out. I'll do whatever we have to do,” Vilsack said. 'She's got to get elected.”

Since only just more than a third of U.S. voters have a favorable opinion of Clinton, according to Real Clear Politics' average of recent national polls, Vilsack said it will be crucial for those who have known and worked with Clinton to convey their support to voters.

Vilsack has known Clinton since she was first lady, when she helped his struggling 1998 gubernatorial campaign that ultimately was successful.

'I'm confident that over time we're going to continue to see growing support,” Vilsack said.