Boccieri runs from Clinton speech to delivery room

CANTON

Ohio Rep. John Boccieri ran offstage Saturday during a speech by Bill Clinton after the congressman received word that his pregnant wife had gone into labor.

Boccieri quickly left the podium Saturday afternoon while the former president addressed a crowd of about 1,000 people in Canton.

“The baby is now being born!” Clinton announced as the crowd erupted with cheers. “You’d be amazed how many times I take a picture with a very pregnant woman and then she immediately gives birth.”

Boccieri, a Democrat, is locked in a close race with Republican Jim Renacci. Boccieri’s wife, Stacey, gave birth to their fifth child, Emma Nancy, on Saturday night.

Addressing both sets of grandparents, who were among the crowd standing in the parking lot, Clinton joked: “I’d like some credit for your fifth grandchild being brought into the world.”

Clinton couldn’t resist one more wisecrack before continuing his speech.

“We got another Democrat,” he said. “I wish we could register that baby before it’s too late.”