Bypassed by Obama, Frank Caprio Gets Campaign Help From Bill Clinton

Frank Caprio, the "shove it" Rhode Island Democrat who didn't get President Obama's endorsement for governor, is getting another pretty big White House name to campaign for him -- former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton will make his second visit to the state Sunday on behalf of Caprio, who is running against former Sen. Lincoln Chafee -- an independent candidate and Obama friend -- and Republican John Robitaille. Obama, in deference to Chafee, decided to stay neutral in the governor's race and did not meet with Caprio when he campaigned in Rhode Island on Monday.

Caprio, hurt by the political snub, told an interviewer the president could "take his endorsement and really shove it." In 2008, he endorsed Hillary Clinton in the presidential race, while Chafee backed Obama.

Caprio took heat for his coarse remark in a debate among the candidates Tuesday night. Robitaille said the Democrat had acted like a "petulant little child" who didn't get his way, the AP reported. Chaffee said his comment reflected poorly on the state, and third party candidate Ken Block resorted to name-calling, saying Caprio was an "absolute knucklehead" for making the remark about the non-endorsement.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs said Caprio's campaign was informed several weeks ago that the president would not endorse in the contest. Even so, Chafee aired an ad Tuesday in Rhode Island featuring Obama.