Bill Clinton’s bid to play the kingmaker backfires as friend says: I will stand

Former president Bill Clinton was today at the centre of political intrigue after attempting to get a Democratic candidate to throw in the towel just days before the mid-term elections.

He urged Kendrick Meek to drop out of the race for the crucial Senate seat in Florida in an attempt to thwart the Republicans from sweeping to victory.

Mr Clinton gambled on his party's supporters backing the independent candidate Charlie Crist, the state's governor. Mr Clinton hoped the move would stop Republican Marco Rubio in his tracks as a withdrawal would have thrown Democrat voters towards Mr Crist, giving him a clear lead.

But the ploy backfired when Mr Meek insisted he would still stand, leaving Mr Clinton's attempt to be a "kingmaker" in tatters. He told Mr Meek he would be a "hero" by sacrificing himself for the greater good of the party and, apparently, promised him a senior political role in return.

Political experts said the attempted deal showed the desperate state of the Democrats as they face losing both houses of Congress in the election.

Mr Clinton has been campaigning all over the country, trying to keep the House of Representatives and Senate in Democrats' hands.

The latest polls have Mr Meek, a close friend of Mr Clinton, trailing third in the fight for Florida with only 15 per cent of the vote.

Mr Rubio, who has the support of the radical Tea Party, currently leads in the polls but his rating has slipped badly in recent days. He is closely trailed by Mr Crist.

Mr Meek first said he would consider the idea but changed his mind and insisted his name would be on Tuesday's ballot paper.

He vehemently denied that Mr Clinton had asked him to withdraw. He said: "He's a friend. He will always be a friend. I count on his counsel. We talk about issues all the time, but to say that he asked me is totally false." But Mr Crist confirmed the offer had been made.

First Lady Michelle Obama will join the final days of the campaign, hoping to use her popularity and influence in one of the most hotly contested Senate battles.

She will make a speech urging people to turn out and vote for Senate hopeful Joe Sestak in Pennsylvania. Mr Sestak, a retired Navy admiral, is neck and neck with the Republican candidate Pat Toomey.

Polls predict big Republican gains nationwide, with many voters disheartened by the weak economy and disillusioned with Mr Obama himself.