>> you can't have it both ways. you invoke president obama more than anybody in this campaign, you can't do it when it is convenient and dodge it when it is not. >> the former vp says there is no dodging, just praise. >> i'm proud of the job he did. i don't think anything he has to apologize for and it kind of surprised me the criticism. >> former obama chief of staff from emmanuel also came to the 44th president's defense today. >> every element of progressivity from wilson and terry roosevelt of franklin roosevelt to the great society and forward built on the progress of generations, this is enough. >> eric holder summed it up in a tweet minutes after the debate ended. to my fellow democrats, be wary of attacking the obama record, build on it, expanded but there is little to be gained, for you are the party by attacking by attacking a successful and still popular democratic president. as for the former president he