Bill Clinton Praises Mitt Romney's Business Career

While the rift between religious conservatives and Ron Paul "libertarian" types within the Republican party is being well-documented, a rift within the Democratic party is just beginning to emerge into public view.  It's the rift between economically populist liberals and pro-business moderates.

Former President Bill Clinton is the latest Democrat to praise Mitt Romney's work at Bain Capital.  What gives?

Remember that Clinton emerged from a group founded in 1985 called the Democratic Leadership Council.  The group felt that the Democratic party would continue to be trounced in elections if it didn't fashion a pro-business message.

And while Clinton is certainly willing to be a campaign surrogate for President Obama, he's not above giving him some campaign advice--tack toward the middle.  Obama, on the other hand, has specifically rejected the support of the "New Democrats" that were part of the now-defunct DLC.

Clinton believes that a Democrat can't win re-election while bashing business during a campaign that is centered on job creation and economic growth.  Expect that discussion to continue (hello, Hillary!) after an Obama loss in 2012.