toledoblade.com --

SUNRISE, Fla. - Barack Obama, seeking to ride his economic message to victory at the polls on Tuesday, reached into his arsenal yesterday for two powerful weapons to help him make his case: money and Bill Clinton.

Mr. Obama tapped his vast campaign account to bankroll a highly unusual infomercial on prime-time television, an unfiltered 30 minutes that he used to continue introducing himself to voters and lay out his plans to right the troubled American economy.

Hours later, he was slated to headline his first joint rally with the former president, whose economic stewardship in the 1990s many voters recall fondly.

The half-hour ad, called Barack Obama: American Stories, American Solutions, featured ordinary Americans who are struggling economically, along with Mr. Obama's pledges and plans to make things better by cutting taxes for the middle class, expanding alternative energy, and extending health care to the uninsured. It included warm footage of Mr. Obama, his wife, and two daughters on the campaign trail over the past two years, and cameos from leading supporters.

"We've seen over the last eight years how decisions by a president can have a profound effect on the course of history and on American lives," Mr. Obama said. "But much that's wrong in our country goes back even further than that. We've been talking about the same problems for decades, and nothing is ever done to solve them."

He continued: "Michelle and I have met so many Americans who are looking for real and lasting change that makes a difference in their lives. Their stories are American stories. What struck me the most about these stories you will see tonight is not just the challenges these Americans face but also their resolve to change this country."

They were stories about families such as the Johnstons from North Kansas City, Mo., struggling with the rising costs of health care and food, and having difficulty making their car and mortgage payments. And families such as the Stuarts, from the southwestern Ohio town of Sardinia, who have had to take out a loan on their house to pay medical bills.

The program ended with two minutes of live footage of Mr. Obama speaking to 20,000 cheering supporters at a hockey arena in Sunrise, Fla., where he hopes to stockpile votes in a state in which polls show him with a slender advantage.

As the national audience tuned in, Mr. Obama said, "In six days, we can choose hope over fear and unity over division. The promise of change over the power of the status quo."

"America, the time for change has come," Mr. Obama declared.

Republican rival John McCain mocked Mr. Obama's infomercial and again hammered the Illinois senator for backing away from an earlier pledge to work with Mr. McCain toward an agreement on public financing and spending limits for the general election.

"When you're watching this gauzy, feel-good commercial, just remember that it was paid for with broken promises," said Mr. McCain, who campaigned aggressively yesterday across Florida. "Senator Obama's word doesn't appear to mean that much."

After the ad aired, McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds said in a statement: "As anyone who has bought anything from an infomercial knows, the sales job is always better than the product. Buyer beware."

Mr. Obama's appearance with Mr. Clinton last night, at a park in Kissimmee, outside Orlando, was their first joint appearance on the campaign trail. Mr. Clinton is scheduled to be in Toledo this evening.

Mr. Obama also did an interview with ABC's Charles Gibson that ran on the evening news last night.

He told Mr. Gibson he would include Republicans in his Cabinet if he wins the election.

Mr. Obama said he had "some pretty good ideas" about people he might tap for senior government jobs, though he emphasized he is focused for now on the final days of the campaign and takes nothing for granted.

Mr. Obama said he "absolutely" considered it important to have Republicans in the Cabinet but he sidestepped a question on whether he would ask Defense Secretary Robert Gates to remain in his job.

"I'm not going to get into details," Mr. Obama said, but he added that national security policy, in particular, should be nonpartisan.

Mr. Obama also taped a segment for Comedy Central's The Daily Show.

Mr. Obama, bidding to be the first black president, told host Jon Stewart he doesn't believe that white voters will bail out on him in the privacy of the voting booth.

"They've been saying that for a while. But we're still here."

Then, making light of the race topic, Mr. Stewart asked whether Mr. Obama is going to be confused about whether he should vote for himself as the son of a white mom and black father.

Mr. Obama played along.

"I won't know what to do," the smiling Democratic presidential nominee said. "It's a problem."

Mr. Stewart also suggested that Mr. Obama made a tactical mistake by planning last night's rally with former President Clinton in Florida at the late hour of 11 p.m. By that time, Mr. Stewart said, many of Florida's older people will already be asleep.

"No comment on that, Jon," Mr. Obama said. "I'm trying to win Florida."

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