Bill and Hillary Clinton don’t intend to come within “100 miles” of the New York City mayor’s race.
In his first comments since Anthony Weiner’s sexting scandal resurfaced, Bill Clinton said he and his wife are friendly with several of the candidates, so there’s no way they’ll be picking sides.
“We are a hundred miles from that race, and everyone understands that we are not going to be involved, as long as our personal friends and people who we feel obligations are involved,” the former president said from Rwanda, where he and daughter Chelsea have been visiting as his foundation hosts events there.
Clinton singled out two of the contenders by name as longtime pals: Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, who ran Hillary’s US Senate race in New York, and businessman John Catsimatidis. What’s more, Clinton presided over Weiner’s wedding to Hillary aide Huma Abedin.
But Weiner did not make cut as one of the contenders who are also friends.
The Clintons are fuming that Weiner’s candidacy is bringing an unwanted reminder of Bill Clinton’s own sex scandal and is scarring Huma’s reputation.
Explaining his reasons for staying neutral, Bill Clinton told CNN it was “not because it’s a political campaign, because neither Hillary or I was ever involved in the political campaign, and they understood that from the beginning.”
Political experts said that Weiner notwithstanding, Clinton’s position makes political sense.
“His wife is thinking of running for president,” said political
consultant Jerry Skurnik. “What is the reason why he would get involved in a race in New York City and [anger people]?”
Clinton only hinted at what sources have said is his inner fury at Weiner. “So, the feelings I have are all personal, and since they are, I shouldn’t talk about them,” he said.