Former US president Bill Clinton has urged his Democrat successor Barack Obama to be optimistic on the prospects for the US economy, in a interview broadcast on Friday.
Speaking to the ABC television network, Clinton praised Obama's efforts to explain the breadth and depth of the current economic malaise, but urged the 44th president to talk-up a positive long-term vision.
"I just want the American people to know that he's confident that we are gonna get out of this and he feels good about the long run," Clinton told ABC's "Good Morning America."
As stock markets continue to post multi-year lows, Obama has drawn fire in some quarters for painting an overly bleak view of the recession.
During his inaugural address in January, Obama departed sharply from his campaign's aspirational tone and was instead more somber in his first days in office.
Then, before two million elated supporters in Washington, he warned "the challenges we face are real. They are serious and they are many. They will not be met easily or in a short span of time."
Clinton praised Obama's management during his first weeks in office, giving him an "A" grade. He also praised Obama's largely futile efforts to reach out to Republicans while passing the 787 billion dollar stimulus package.
But, he added: "I just would like him to end by saying that he is hopeful and completely convinced we're gonna come through this."
Clinton -- who as president oversaw a period of relative economic growth and a balanced federal budget -- had harsher words for the administration of George W Bush, saying that much of the current economic crisis could have been avoided.
"I personally believe, based on my experience over the years with the economy, that if we moved aggressively on this home problem a year and a half ago, even a year ago, as much as 90 percent of the current crisis could have been avoided," he said.
