There has not been a surplus since Eisenhower. Check out the climbing national debt. When they claim they are reducing the deficit, they are referring to the BUDGET deficit. That means that they are reducing the amount OVER the budget that they spend. Unfortunately, since Obama never had a budget, he can say anything he wishes.
Clinton did NOT have a budget. Go to Treasurydirect.gov and look at the stats. He signed a budget for Bush's first year that was unrealistic. There was no pay down of the national debt, therefore no reduced debt.