At least one Democratic Party official seconded the prediction, telling the Associated Press that Clinton will indeed campaign for Kerry early next week in Philadelphia - just days after friends and associates said his recovery was lagging and he wouldn't be able to campaign for Kerry in person.

Last weekend, sources familiar with Clinton's condition told the Washington Post that his recuperation was "slower than anticipated," adding that the former president "finds himself exhausted" after minor exertion and remains "in considerable pain from the chest incision."

And yesterday Mrs. Clinton described her husband as a "patient patient" who wouldn't be rushed into premature activity.

Clinton spokesman-turned-Kerry press flack Mike McCurry immediately threw cold water on Kerry's suggestion that Clinton would be hitting the campaign trail anytime soon, telling reporters that his new boss was only "expressing a hope."

"If he is able to travel, we would like him to consider Pennsylvania among other locations, but we have not had a firm answer on whether he was able to campaign or not," McCurry told the AP.

Editor's note: