After vowing not to participate in this year's presidential election, Bruce Springsteen is supporting Barack Obama again, saying he believes Obama is the best person to lead America.

 

Barack Obama and wife Michelle meet with Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa at a 2008 Obama campaign rally.
Barack Obama and wife Michelle meet with Bruce Springsteen and wife Patti Scialfa at a 2008 Obama campaign rally. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
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Springsteen posted a message on his website Wednesday night endorsing President Obama's re-election, saying he'd been "getting asked a lot about where I stand." The rock star will make his debut on the 2012 campaign trail Thursday at events in Iowa with former President Bill Clinton.

"For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together," wrote Springsteen, who has come under fire from some of his fans for politicizing his concerts.

The Boss also offered support for U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Elizabeth Warren (D) of Massachusetts who is challenging Scott Brown for the US Senate seat once occupied by Ted Kennedy.

He also backed Obama in 2008.

Springsteen says he's behind Obama, who is facing Republican rival Mitt Romney in November, because of the president's views on the rights of gays and lesbians, ending the war in Iraq and tracking down Osama bin Laden.

He wrote that despite "the economic chaos the previous administration left him" creating a "rough ride" for Obama's first term, he has been able to has been able to do a great many things that many of us deeply support."

Springsteen will join Obama for a campaign appearance in Ohio & Iowa today.  Fellow New Jersey rocker Jon Bon Jovi has been active for the President's re-election by playing at several campaign events. He also flew with Obama on Air Force One to an event in New York from Washington D.C.

Fans on his Facebook page were mixed. " I think Bruce's words reflect his passion for the American people and their struggle in his songs and now also in his comments on the election," wrote Kathy Keller.  Mary Caldarone was also happy to see the endorsement.  "Kudos, Mr. Springsteen, for graciously stating your position without malice or venom towards the other candidate. The political scene needs more people like you!"

But Trey Hancock is not on board. "Love your music Bruce...but we can respectfully disagree on your support of this president. It's far too late to blame Bush for what challenges us all. We need a change," he posted. Jeryl Kortlander wrote, "Bruce, you should stick to singing and stay out of politics."

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN'S ENDORSEMENT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA

Dear Friends:

The election is coming up on all of us and we all have strong feelings about it. I’ve been getting asked a lot about where I stand, so for those who are interested, here goes.

This presidential election is different than the last one because President Obama has a four year record to run on. Last time around, he carried with him a tremendous amount of hope and expectations. Unfortunately, due to the economic chaos the previous administration left him with, and the extraordinary intensity of the opposition, it turned into a really rough ride. But through grit, determination, and focus, the President has been able to do a great many things that many of us deeply support.

Domestically, that record includes working to increase and expand employment for all, protecting our all important social safety net, passing guaranteed health care for most of our citizens, with important new protections for all of the insured, rescuing the auto industry and so many of the American jobs that go with it, protecting and enhancing the rights of women, and bringing us closer to full acceptance of our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

In foreign affairs, that record includes following through on the removal of troops from the misguided and deceptive war in Iraq, and vigorously pursuing our real foreign enemies, especially the killing of Osama Bin Laden.

Right now the opposition’s resort to voter suppression in so many states is not receiving as much attention as it deserves. I believe that all of us, of whatever views, should be opposing these anti-voter, anti-citizen efforts.

Right now, for the President to be effective in his next term he needs our increased support and he needs support in the Congress, where some sterling candidates, such as current Senator Sherrod Brown of Ohio, challenger Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, and so many others, are fighting to make their constructive voices heard.

Right now, there is an ever increasing division of wealth in this country, with the benefits going more and more to the 1 percent. For me, President Obama is our best choice to begin to reverse this harmful development.

Right now, there is a fight going on to help make this a fairer and more equitable nation. For me, President Obama is our best choice to get us and keep us moving in the right direction.

Right now, we need a President who has a vision that includes all of our citizens, not just some, whether they are our devastated poor, our pressured middle class, and yes, the wealthy too; whether they are male or female, black, white, brown, or yellow, straight or gay, civilian or military.

Right now, there is a choice going on in America, and I’m happy that we live in a country where we all participate in that process. For me, President Obama is our best choice because he has a vision of the United States as a place where we are all in this together. We’re still living through very hard times but justice, equality and real freedom are not always a tide rushing in. They are more often a slow march, inch by inch, day after long day. I believe President Obama feels these days in his bones and has the strength to live them with us and to lead us to a country “…where no one crowds you and no one goes it alone.”

That’s why I plan to be in Ohio and Iowa supporting the re-election of President Obama to lead our country for the next four years.

Bruce Springsteen

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