Bill Clinton belatedly on board

Former President Bill Clinton, who has been noticeably reticent in his backing for Barack Obama, is finally voicing his endorsement.

The Associated Press is reporting today that Clinton, through spokesman Matt McKenna, is saying that he is "committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president."

Obama's campaign didn't specify how Clinton might help the campaign, but noted he would factor into the race.

"A unified Democratic Party is going to be a powerful force for change this year and we're confident President Clinton will play a big role in that," said Obama spokesman Bill Burton, according to the AP report.

UPDATE: Obama told CNN today that he will need the help of both Clintons, and praised them. “They’re going to want to campaign actively on behalf of the Democratic ticket,” said Obama, “I am going to need them.”

He called Bill Clinton "one of the most intelligent, charismatic political leaders that we have seen in a generation and he has got a lot of wisdom to impart."

Obama said Hillary Clinton is "going to be a force to be reckoned with not only in the Senate, but hopefully if I'm successful in the White House she's going to be one of my key partners in making sure that we’re moving forward on issues like healthcare that she cares so deeply about."

Clinton is not scheduled at this point, however, to appear with his wife and Obama at their first joint rally of the general election campaign Friday in Unity, N.H.

The former president did appear with Hillary Clinton when she formally conceded the race and endorsed Obama on June 7, but did not speak.

Bill Clinton was a vociferous supporter of his wife, and he had his run-ins with the Obama camp, accusing it at one point of playing the race card against him. Hillary Clinton struggled for most of the campaign with how exactly to use her husband, who seemed to upstage her at times and be in the middle of controversies.