Bill Clinton stumps for Tim Bishop in Stony Brook

Former President Bill Clinton told Stony Brook University students Wednesday that if they don't vote for Rep. Tim Bishop next week, they are "playing Russian roulette."

Clinton and Bishop each touted the 2009 student loan bill, which the four-term Southampton Democrat co-authored, that Democrats said increased the amount of federal Pell Grants and capped monthly payments at 15 percent of income while eliminating federal subsidies to student loan providers.

"I plead with you," Clinton told the crowd of about 2,000 people, "get out of here and go talk to people who aren't here. Go light up the social networks. On this student loan thing alone, any young person who does not vote is playing Russian roulette with their own future."

Rob Ryan, a spokesman for Bishop's Republican opponent, businessman Randy Altschuler of St. James, said Altschuler would not seek to repeal the student loan bill.

"Once again, Congressman Bishop and his surrogates are lying about Randy Altschuler," Ryan said. "He has never said he would repeal this legislation, but he will fight to cut taxes, to cut spending and to shrink the deficit."

Clinton, who spoke for 27 minutes in the campus basketball arena, touted Bishop's position on energy conservation and hailed him for bringing millions of federal dollars to the Stony Brook campus. Altschuler represents stale GOP orthodoxy, Clinton said.

"I tried to give you a 21st century economy," Clinton said. "What's the Republican position? None of their stuff amounts to a hill of beans."

The Clinton visit followed Vice President Joe Biden's appearance Tuesday at a Manhattan fundraiser for Bishop, who after the rally predicted his race would be decided "by single digits."

"The mood of the country is such that races that had been blowout races in the past are going to be very tight," he told reporters.

Bishop said Biden's visit is key to helping him combat the financial advantage held by millionaire Altschuler.

"There's no question I need help raising money," he said. "I'm running against a gazillionaire who spent $2.5 million of his own money. The vice president helped me raise 70 grand yesterday."