It's almost like Bill Clinton has become another running mate for President Obama.

The current president made seven references to his predecessor in two campaign speeches Friday, playing off Clinton's well-received speech to the Democratic convention this week.

"President Clinton made the case in the way only he can," Obama told backers in Portsmouth, N.H.

He added: "Somebody e-mailed me after his speech -- they said, you need to appoint him secretary of explaining stuff ... That was pretty good. I like that ... the secretary of explaining stuff."

Obama echoed that line in Iowa City. And in both New Hampshire and Iowa. Obama also cited Clinton statements about economic recovery and taxes; he referred to the economic boom that hit during Clinton's presidency.

There are reports that Obama hasn't always thought highly of Clinton; but now the two couldn't be closer, less than 60 days before the fate of Obama's re-election bid is determined.

"As Bill Clinton reminded us on Wednesday night, it's going to take more than a few years for us to solve challenges that were building up over decades," Obama said in New Hampshire.

Later, as in Iowa, Obama talked about his proposal to end the George W. Bush tax rates for people making over $250,000 a year.

"It just means that after you make additional money, you're paying the same rate we paid when Bill Clinton was president," Obama said in New Hampshire. "The same rate we had when our economy created nearly 23 million new jobs -- we had the biggest surplus in history and we created a whole lot of millionaires to boot."

In Iowa, Obama echoed a line from Clinton's speech about Republican opponent Mitt Romney.

"This week, President Clinton pointed out that the single-biggest (element) missing from my opponent's plan is arithmetic." Obama said. "It doesn't add up."

We can also expect to hear Clinton talk more about Obama -- the president's campaign welcomes its predecessor out on the campaign trail.

In fact, Clinton will campaign for Obama next week in Florida.

"Judging from his amazing speech on Wednesday -- which we knew he would deliver, and the incredible response that was well deserved -- we'd love to have him out there as much as he's available," said Obama campaign spokeswoman Jen Psaki.