Clinton Promotes A Rosy Economic Message

YPSILANTI, Mich. (Oct. 30) -- After a night in Washington and yet more last-minute Democratic Party fund-raising, President Bill Clinton has returned to the campaign trail in Michigan on the first stop of a final cross-country sprint.

If everything goes according to his plans, the next time Clinton will be back at the White House will be next Wednesday, after he is re-elected.

Once again, Clinton carefully avoided reporters and as a result, there was no opportunity to question him about widespread reports of tainted campaign money flowing into Democratic coffers. That chore, as usual, was left to his aides and party officials. They say he will deliver his promised speech on the need for campaign finance reform Friday in California.

At Eastern Michigan University not far from Detroit, Clinton continued his policy of raising politically-safe issues, this time the need to support women entrepreneurs.

Clinton didn't respond directly to Dole's latest warning of a pending economic recession during a second Clinton term. Instead he joked, "I was a little amused today when my distinguished opponent said that we have the worst economy in 20 years. Now, two weeks ago he said it was the worst economy in 100 years so we're making progress. And I feel good about that. Not everybody can make up 80 years in two weeks and I'm proud." (320K WAV sound)

The president's aides are dismissing Dole's warnings as simply more "doom and gloom." They predicted it won't have any last-minute impact on this campaign.

This story originally appeared on CNN's "Inside Politics."

Clinton Promotes A Rosy Economic Message

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