Bill Clinton waves to the crowd during the 1997 State of the Union address.

Facing a serious challenge from billionaire investor Jeff Greene for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate and trailing independent Gov. Charlie Crist and Republican candidate Marco Rubio in the polls, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek looked to shore up his support by stressing his credentials on women’s issues and by calling on former President Bill Clinton for help.

The Meek campaign unveiled a new line of attack on Greene Monday during a conference call with women’s leaders from across the state, including Barbara Devane from the National Organization of Women; Alison Morano from the Pasco County Democrats; former Hernando County Commissioner Diane Rowden; Ambassador Nancy Soderberg, former alternate U.S. representative to the U.N. Security Council; and representatives from the Florida Federation of Business and Professional Women.

The women’s leaders praised Meek’s record on their issues and bashed Greene for having no record of public service. They also stressed that Meek has always been pro-choice, contrasting him with Crist. While Crist has been pro-life for most of his career, since leaving the Republican Party in April, he vetoed a measure that passed the Legislature that would have required women considering an abortion in the first trimester to have an ultrasound.

Talking about Meek, Devane said, “He has been an advocate for women his whole career.”

“Kendrick Meek understands the need for laws to back equal rights,” said Soderberg. “He is clearly pro-choice and understands the need for health-care reform.”

The women’s leaders attacked Greene for having no record on their issues and for his friendship with infamous Hollywood madam Heidi Fleiss and former heavyweight champion and convicted rapist Mike Tyson, who was the best man at Greene’s wedding. The women’s leaders hammered Greene over his personal life.

Speaking of Greene, Devane said, “He’s been a playboy in California, moving from one woman to another.”

But while Meek supporters attack Greene for his personal relationships, the campaign featured a fund-raising appeal from a more well-established womanizer than their rival for the nomination -- former President Bill Clinton. 

On Friday, the Meek camp sent out another letter from Clinton seeking to raise another $100,000 before the second-quarter reporting deadline of June 30. The Meek campaign sent out a fund-raising letter under Clinton’s name last year.

“Almost 20 years ago, when I first met Kendrick Meek, I knew he had the potential to become a strong leader and a fine public servant,” wrote Clinton. “Kendrick has spent the last two decades faithfully serving the people of Florida, staying true to his core beliefs and giving everything he has to improving the lives of others. Now he's running against multiple opponents for the U.S. Senate.

"I know a little something about three-candidate races,” wrote Clinton, who ran against independent candidate Ross Perot as well as the Republican nominees in 1992 and 1996. “I believe that Kendrick Meek is the best candidate, and that he's got a real shot at winning, but only if he gets our help now.”

Clinton also contrasted Meek with the rest of the field.

“Once Floridians know about Kendrick's record of looking out for them and not his own self-interest -- of consistent leadership on issues like education, health care, choice, and immigration -- they'll see that he's the best candidate to move our country forward and fix the problems we're facing,” wrote the former president. “Floridians can't afford a senator who embraces the destructive politics and failed policies of the past.”

Three polls from earlier in the month showed that the Democratic nominee, whether it was Meek or Greene, was mired in third place.