Wild Bill Clinton drew his wifes battle-scarred campaign even further off track when he told interviewer Charlie Rose that Americans would be taking a risk by voting for close rival Barack Obama, saying the junior senator from Illinois wasnt ready to lead.
If you listen to the people who are most strongly for [Obama], they say basically we have to throw away all these experienced people because they have been through the wars of the 90s, Clinton told Rose for the PBS show that aired Friday night.
Obama supporters want someone who started running for president a year after he became a senator because hes fresh, hes new, hes never made a mistake, and he has massive political skills. And were willing to risk it.
Clinton later added: Its less predictable. Isnt it?
Clinton also used the hour-long interview to try to dial down expectations for Hillary Rodham Clinton to win the Jan. 3 Iowa Democratic caucus once an almost foregone conclusion telling Rose it was a miracle that Hillarys got a chance to win.
Citing former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards strong populist roots in Iowa and Chicago-based Obamas back-door advantage, the former president tried to cast a positive light on his wifes three-way tie in the states most recent polls.
She might win this thing in Iowa. And Im not lowballing it, he said, laughing. I think its a miracle, because of the way the thing has played out. But she is so good, if she just gets before enough people, and she would be the best president.
By the end of the discussion, Clintons staffers were pushing Rose producers to end the interview, reports said.
The interview was taped in Roses Manhattan studios Thursday the same day Hillarys cam
paign staffers were frantically trying to undo the damage from remarks made by the candidates New Hampshire campaign chairman about Obamas past drug use.
After she denounced the aides statements and he agreed to step down, she told reporters on Friday that such negative tactics had no place in her campaign.
But the message hadnt gotten to Bill.
When I was governor and young and thought I was the best politician in the Democratic Party, I didnt run the first time I could have, he said, referring to the 1988 campaign he passed on. I knew in my bones I shouldnt run. That I was a good enough politician to win, but I didnt think I was ready to be president.
He also ridiculed Obama for playing down the experience issue by saying, you know, [Vice President Dick] Cheney and [ex-Secretary of Defense Donald] Rumsfeld had a lot of experience.
Thats like saying that because 100 percent of .medical malpractice [is] committed by doctors, the next time I need surgery, Ill get a chef or plumber to do it.
He also had this backhanded compliment for his wifes rival: I get tickled watching him.
Speaking yesterday in Waterloo, Iowa, Obama responded to questions
about Bill Clintons comments by saying the nation was tired of politics being played as a blood sport.
I understand that theres a history of politics being all about slash and burn, taking folks down, what I recall the Clintons themselves calling the politics of personal destruction, he said. And my suspicion is that thats just not where the countrys at. The same old experience isnt relevant.
Obama said he was drawing Bill Clintons fire because he, Obama, is riding high.
When I was 20 points down, they all thought I was a wonderful guy. Obviously, things have changed here in Iowa and elsewhere in the country. I understand that. Thats the kind of politics weve become accustomed to.
He also countered Bill and Hillarys statements that Hillary Clinton had been vetted something Obama said was a suggestion that damaging information might be lurking in the backgrounds ofother candidates.
Ive probably been more reported on than any political figure in the country, he said.