WASHINGTON – President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush gushed about Hillary Rodham Clinton’s experience yesterday – saying she could handle the immense challenges of the presidency better than any other Democrat.
The Republican president, in an interview with ABC News, said, “There is no question that Sen. Clinton understands pressure better than any of the candidates, you know, in the race.”
Bush called Clinton a “very formidable candidate” who he said understands the “klieg lights” that go with presidential politics.
But, he said, “I do believe our candidate will beat her, if she happens to be the nominee.”
Then, he turned around and slammed Clinton’s rival, Barack Obama, for promoting the “odd foreign policy” of agreeing to meet with leaders of countries like Iran without preconditions.
“These candidates don’t really understand is how complex the environment is inside the Oval Office,” Bush said.
Laura Bush, who participated in the interview, said Clinton’s experience as first lady would be “very helpful” in the White House, adding, “You certainly know what it’s like. You know the pressure there is, you know the difficulties.”
Bush’s repeated praise of Clinton has left observers wondering if White House wants Republicans to face her.
Meanwhile, Clinton lashed out at Obama for his remarks that having a Kenyan father and spending time as a child living overseas gave him a better feel for foreign-policy challenges and the reputation of the United States abroad .
“Probably the strongest experience I have in foreign relations is the fact I spent four years overseas when I was a child in Southeast Asia,” Obama said Monday.
He also said his experience was more valuable than the overseas junkets lawmakers take.
Clinton, who often touts the dozens of trips she has taken overseas, seized on the line yesterday.
“Now voters will judge whether living in a foreign country at the age of 10 prepares one to face the big, complex international challenges the next president will face,” she said.
“I think we need a president with more experience than that.”
Obama’s campaign spokesman, Bill Burton, responded, “Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld have spent time in the White House and traveled to many countries as well, but along with Hillary Clinton, they led us into the worst foreign-policy disaster in a generation.”
Clinton’s lead over Obama has slipped from 23-points in September to 14 points now, according to a new CNN/WMUR poll. Clinton led Obama, 43-20, in September, and is ahead, 36-22, now.
Clinton also rolled out her first negative TV ad yesterday, railing against the Republican “attack machine.”