[Linda Stouffer, Cnn Anchor:] It was a late night for President Clinton, who spent more than 40 minutes revving up the crowd at this week's Democratic National Convention in Los Angeles. Mr. Clinton offered a triumphant review of his nearly eight years in office and served up high praise for the man who's been at his side. For more now on just what the president had to say, we go to CNN's Gina London, who joins us live from Los Angeles today. Gina, good morning.
[Gina London, Cnn Correspondent:] Hi, good morning, Linda. That's right, I'm here at the Staples Center, where it all took place last night. This really was a sort of last hurrah for President Clinton as he faced this adoring crowd. Now he did get emotional at times. He actually thanked the American people for giving him eight years of a job that he said, in his words, "was a joy." But he really revved up the crowd, Linda, when he talked about taking credit for the booming economy. He used the Republicans' words against them by quoting Ronald Reagan back in 1988.
[William J. Clinton, President Of The United States:] I ask you, let's remember the standard our Republican friends used to have for whether a party should continue in office: My fellow Americans, are we better off today than we were eight years ago? We're not just better off, we're also a better country. We are, today, more tolerant, more decent, more humane, and more united. Now that's the purpose of prosperity.
[London:] And, of course, Mr. Clinton made it very clear that Al Gore is going to carry on that prosperity because he supports those economic policies. In fact, as president of the Senate, he cast the deciding vote to implement some of those policies.
[Clinton:] We sent our plan to Congress. It passed by a single vote in both houses. In a deadlocked Senate, Al Gore cast the tie- breaking vote. Now, now, not a single Republican supported it. Here's what their leader said. Their leader said our plan would increase the deficit, kill jobs, and give us a one-way ticket to a recession. Time has not been kind to their predictions.
[London:] Now, all in all, many analysts actually considered it a classic Clinton campaign speech. The Republicans said, from their point of view, it was less about handing the baton to Al Gore and more about beating the drum of Bill Clinton. But Al Gore and Joe Lieberman were watching on the campaign trail in St. Louis, and they called it a success. Meantime, however, back here at the Staples Center, even while the president was giving a speech, there were some protests and some clashes of those protesters with police. There had been a concert in the fenced off area around by the Staples Center, and then some protesters tried to climb the fence, some small fires erupted. And the police, in full riot gear, were called in. They came in to try to disperse the crowds, actually pulled the plug on the concert. And we understand that there were some rubber bullets that were fired, some pepper spray that was emitted. And there were several arrests, although there were no major injuries that we've heard reported. So it was quite an evening here at Staples Center, of politics, protesters, and, of course, the president Linda.
[Stouffer:] Gina London, live in Los Angeles.