Former President Bill Clinton put up President Obama’s name for the Democratic nomination Wednesday, as he began an address aimed at making the case for a second Obama term -- saying he put American on the "long road" to recovery.

“I want to nominate a man who is cool on the outside but who burns for America on the inside,” Clinton said. “I want Barack Obama to be the next president of the United States.”

Clinton said he nominates Obama to be the “standard-bearer” for the party.

Ahead of the address, Clinton sent out a fundraising email on Obama’s behalf – saying it’s “absolutely urgent” that the president stay in office.

“We can win this,” he wrote.

Obama will formally accept the nomination on Thursday night in his late-night address.