Political 'Boss'

UPDATE 4:00   NYT has a full report and review up.  Suggests Obama not lifelong Bruce fan.  Duh.


UPDATE 1:30 p.m.   Bruce just finished his Ohio set, following another stem-winding speech by Bill Clinton.  He said following the Big Dog was like following Elvis, and wished the former president had brought his sax along for a jam.   Spoke a bit about need to re-elect Obama, stressing the economy, then did a few acoustic songs, "Promised Land" and "We Take Care of Our Own" and "Youngstown" and "This Land Is Your Land," before closing with "Thunder Road" and another call for "four more years."

Today's the big day as Bruce Springsteen stumps for Obama (partly with Bill Clinton) in Ohio and Iowa.  If you missed, here's his statement released last night on why he's doing it, after saying he probably wouldn't.   Also, my recent piece at The Nation on his political journey since I met him as totally apolitical young fellow back in 1972.   Here's more on meeting him then--at Sing Sing Prison.  On the preface he wrote for my book on Iraq and the media.  On his recent birthday.

Here's Bruce doing "Thunder Road" at his first political concert, for No Nukes, NYC, 1979.