Bill Clinton: 'Chill Out,' Let Voters Decide
The ex president says most Democrats like both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.
March 16, 2008 -- Bill Clinton, in an exclusive interview with Robin Roberts, said he thinks Democrats are torn between two candidates they like, and that it's time to "chill out" and let the voters decide who should be the party's presidential nominee.
"The voters get to decide. I think we should just celebrate this," Clinton said. "If we just chill out here and let all the voters have their say, my gut is it's gonna come out all right."
For more of the interview, watch "Good Morning America" on Monday, beginning at 7 a.m. ET.
Roberts spoke to Clinton in New Orleans, where he was working with the Clinton Global Initiative.
When the conversation turned to politics and the tight race between his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama, the former president said Democrats are dealing with a difficult decision between two strong candidates.
"I expect a spirited election in the fall, no matter what happens," Clinton said. "But we should just let the Dems decide. This is a tough choice for them.
"They got two candidates, they basically like them both, and they have different strengths," he said. "And they have to decide which skilll set is more important, number one, for the country's welfare in the long run, and which one is more likely to be elected. And you know I have my strong convictions, but I might be wrong."
Though the campaign has taken some nasty turns, with surrogates and campaign members from each side making controversial attacks on the other, Bill Clinton said, for most Democrats, both candidates look good.
"The fundamental fact is most voters like them both. They're trying to decide who will make the best president," he said. "And I think we just ought to let every state and Puerto Rico vote, let them all vote, and see where we are, and I think it will become clearer than we know, what to do."
The Democratic Party has barred Michigan and Florida delegates from the convention, because the two states moved their primaries earlier than the party wanted. The Clinton campaign has been pushing for the two states' primary votes to be recognized by the party.
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