Bill Clinton: McCain 'A Great Man'; Praises Wife's, Not Obama's Economic Plan

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Bill Clinton: McCain 'A Great Man'; Praises Wife's, Not Obama's Economic Plan

September 18, 2008 6:33 PM

ABC News' Jennifer Parker reports: Former President Bill Clinton has largely kept himself out of the public eye since his wife lost the Democratic primary to Barack Obama.

However in a rare television interview tonight, the former president called Republican presidential candidate John McCain "a great man" and praised GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin as an "instinctively effective candidate."

On a day when Obama sought to convince voters that he's best able to handle the economic crisis, the former president said it was his wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., who gave today "the most detailed position" on what to do about the financial crisis.

In an interview with CNBC's Maria Bartiromo, Clinton, who has tried to put to rest rumors of tensions between himself and Obama said, "I've never concealed my admiration and affection for Sen. McCain. I think he's a great man.

"But, I think, on the issues that matter to our future, the Obama-Biden team is, is more right," Clinton said of the Democratic ticket. "And I believe they're gonna win. But, I think that it will be competitive until the end."

A ringing endorsement it wasn't.

The former president said Obama "has offered some very specific and sensible economic reforms and healthcare reforms."

Clinton, who said he agreed with the US Federal Reserve decision to bailout insurance giant AIG, said his wife who today gave, "the most detailed position I've seen on what she felt we ought to do on the finance crisis."

The two-term former Democratic president invited Obama to lunch in his New York office last week and has agreed to campaign for him in the coming weeks.

But if tonight's interview is any indication, Bill Clinton will not be lavishing praise on his wife's former primary rival.

Clinton predicted the Democrats will win back the White House in November because voters are ready for a change.

"I think what, what typically happens in these elections if you look throughout American history when the country's in a fix and you know where we're going is not sustainable, then there is typically a breakthrough," he said.

"I think that the, the people said, 'Well, they [Republicans] had the Congress and the White House for six of the last eight years. We're in trouble. We liked Senator McCain. We recognize he's a little bit of a different kind of Republican. But, we're gonna make a change.' And I think that's where they'll be and I think that you'll see a victory for Obama and Biden," Clinton said.

However, Clinton, said there could still be "some unforeseen development," perhaps in the debates, he said, that could threaten a Democratic win.

"Barring some unforeseen development like in-- something happens in the debates we don't know about. I-- I-- I-- it may not be apparent in the polls until last week or two of the election. But, I believe that it will be apparent on election day. I think that-- I think Senator Obama will win this election," Clinton said.

Asked if he was surprised by the bounce McCain received in the polls after choosing Palin as his vice presidential candidate, Clinton said he wasn't, and lavished praise on the Alaska governor.

"No, she's a-- she's an instinctively effective candidate," he said, "And with a compelling story. I think it was exciting to some, that, that she was a woman. It was exciting that she was from Alaska. It was exciting that she's sort of like the person she is. And she grew up in a, came up in a political culture and a religious culture that is probably well to the right of the American center. But, she didn't basically define herself in those terms," Clinton said.

"She handled herself very well," he said, "I get why she's done so well. She, she's, it's a mistake to underestimate her. She's got good intuitive skills. They're significant."

Asked whether his wife intends to run in 2012 if McCain wins, Clinton did not rule it out.

"I don't know," he said, "You know the one thing we've learned at, at our age is that, you know, I hope we're both active till we're 90 and healthy. But, I think that her focus will now be on what she can do in her present positions to try to help her deal with all these things that threw her into the presidential race in the first place," he said.

Clinton added, "I think that-- that what she will do is to continue to try to be a national voice as a result of her campaign on economic and healthcare and energy issues that got her into this presidential race in the first place."

The former president suggested he and his wife have put aside "personal politics" and are working hard to elect Obama.

"She's workin'," he said of the New York senator. "You see her. She's out there workin' hard for Senator Obama. She, like me, believe he's gonna win. And no matter who wins, we've got to put our, our own personal politics aside for the next couple of years and get after these problems," he said.

"We've got, we, we've got to shelf the politics for a while and work on the substance. And if we'll do that, the politics will take care of itself," the former president said.

September 18, 2008 in Clinton, Bill, Clinton, Hillary, McCain, John, Obama, Barack, Vote 2008: Democrats, Vote 2008: Republicans | Permalink | User Comments (737)

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Thanks Rodney for your submission. I like all your letters in CAP! Scream louder. Wait.

Please dont.

*shakes head*

*some people should not be allowed to drive, much less use a computer*

Posted by: Michael | Sep 18, 2008 7:07:42 PM

Rodney.

behave child.

Posted by: Michael | Sep 18, 2008 7:09:09 PM

Bill Clinton is a lot of things, and I don't like him, but he is not a racist. He likes McCain and dislikes Obama for a good reason - ideology. They rank like this:
Obama is a radical Communist;
Clintons are both very mild Socialists on the left of the center;
McCain is a mild Socialist on the right of the center.
So, McCain is a lot closer to Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton in his economic and social vision for the country than the uber-Marxist Obama.

Vote for McCain/Palin!

Posted by: Andrew | Sep 18, 2008 7:10:05 PM

Hilary is a moderate democrat, much like Bill. I am sorry she didn't win. I am an independent who doesn't really like McCain much and don't trust Obama at all. He is too socialistic and we don't need extreme leftist politics to deal with the problems we have. I hate that we are always having to vote for the lesser of evils...

Posted by: Mickey 13 | Sep 18, 2008 7:11:32 PM

Bill Clinton is so two faced. His is not to be trusted. He is only looking out for his self. Hillary had better hope Obama wins. Because Palin will run for president in 2012

Posted by: ann | Sep 18, 2008 7:11:48 PM

Right tilly, anyone black running for office wouldn't get full support from the democrats. But I'm glad you all put it out there for all to see. Now I'm sure african americans that value their right to vote will vote accordingly.

Posted by: bc46 | Sep 18, 2008 7:11:57 PM

DEAR REPUBLICANS,

Every day I learn more about John McCain's running mate, and therefore, about John McCain himself.

DID YOU KNOW that when Sarah Palin was elected to be mayor in Wasilla, Alaska, she spent FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS on improvements to her new office?

DID YOU KNOW that she forced construction to start on a new iceskating rink on land the town didn't own?

DID YOU KNOW that she tried to get the land by suing the actual owner, in effect trying to STEAL his private property?

DID YOU KNOW that the town ended up spending an extra 1.5 MILLION dollars for the land because they didn't have title when they starting construction?

DID YOU KNOW that this town only had a small police force, library and local museum. That the town did not have responsibilities for schools or roads or building permits (handled by the county).

DID YOU KNOW that even with these few responsibilities she had to hire a city manager to do the work?

BUT. She is a woman. And she can see Russia -- from an island she has never been to.

Posted by: John | Sep 18, 2008 7:13:07 PM

Is it true that Obama is a follower of the black liberation/black nationist movement?

I've heard rumors but need confirmation.

just askin'.

Posted by: Dan | Sep 18, 2008 7:14:09 PM

After that 'endorsement', Obama might work hard at keeping Bill Clinton off the campaign trail. I bet Obama expected more after he crawled to New York to pay homage to Clinton last week. It sounds like Bill is still angry Obama played the race card on him. Can't say I blame him.

Posted by: Maggie | Sep 18, 2008 7:14:19 PM

Wow - TJ is great at reverse racism.

Posted by: LMAO! | Sep 18, 2008 7:15:10 PM

Earmarks, special interest money- who cares about the dirt being thrown by either side because there are no innocents in this group of four. If I don't like the influence of special interest money on candidates then I guess I won't be voting. Obama declined taking public funding, which part of the purpose of such is to limit the influence of special interests. Biden has been in the bag of credit card companies. McCain takes more money in oil than Obama and Obama takes more money from Wall Street then McCain. Palin is just like the rest with taking earmarks- no different then Obama. The only one's who have an actual record though of standing up to special interests are McCain and Palin though.
The rest of it is just moot because they are all guilty of doing the same thing.

Posted by: alpaig52 | Sep 18, 2008 7:15:42 PM

Polosi House Majority Leader's comment, "Hey don't blame us."

Reid Senate Majority Leader's comment, We don't know what to do."

Obma's comments toward the economic crisis..."I'm skinny, but I'm tough."09/18/2008..Seriously, offered no specifics..just get rid of all blah blah blah

McCain: "I would have fired the SEC chairman. And will create a Federal Commission to oversee the bail-out programs."09/18/2008

Fact; The President has no control over monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank does..........

Posted by: checks and balances | Sep 18, 2008 7:16:20 PM

When did Senator Obama call Bill Clinton a racist?
When did Senator Obama even imply that Bill Clinton was a racist?

Posted by: bc46 | Sep 18, 2008 7:16:56 PM

Hmmm. It's apparent the Clintons REALLY don't like losing and it looks like they know how to carry a grudge. Disappointing to say the least. Their "support" of Obama is obviously lukewarm. If Obama loses this election they will have effectively shot themselves in the foot, at least as far as Hillary Clinton running again is concerned. Politics sometimes, often, sucks.

Posted by: counting crows | Sep 18, 2008 7:17:05 PM

I do not categorically wish to have sex with this woman

Posted by: Pete Slovak | Sep 18, 2008 7:17:34 PM

I could care less what Clinton has to say about anything.

Posted by: KansasGirl | Sep 18, 2008 7:18:08 PM

Bill does not have to praise Obama after Obama As long as Bill thought he could play to the African American community; he did not have a problem with Obama. But now that the Clintons are not in the White House and bring another scandal to the American people he can't see beyond himself. He is a corrupt politician him. How dare you. Baraka is playing the GAME. Bill and Hillary taught him well for 30 plus years. Step back and Step down. We don't need Bill's lukewarm endorsement.

Posted by: martha | Sep 18, 2008 7:18:52 PM

I've heard rumors that Obama suffers for manic depression.

Is this true.

Can't remember where I read it, but I'm wondering if it's true.

Just askin'.

Posted by: Dan | Sep 18, 2008 7:19:12 PM

Bill Clinton certainly must be thinking with his little head once again. No doubt, Palin turns him on...and he is still sulking about the reality that Obama could get as far as he has WITHOUT his help.

Posted by: Terresa | Sep 18, 2008 7:21:00 PM

You can tell Bill Clinton is holding a grudge. And he can hold onto that grudge, but it won't help his wife, especially if she decides to run. Hillary would be lucky to get 10% of the black vote. Sometimes people really do get tired of being slapped and kicked. So turn the other cheek is a myth.

Posted by: bc46 | Sep 18, 2008 7:21:27 PM

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