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Bill Clinton Feels ‘Totally Useless’ on Campaign Trail

Ex-president ponders his role during South Dakota rally

Former President Bill Clinton, when he wasn't feeling so useless, stumps for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in Iowa in January. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)
Former President Bill Clinton, when he wasn't feeling so useless, stumps for his wife, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, in Iowa in January. (Al Drago/CQ Roll Call)

Let’s all take a minute to feel sorry for Bill Clinton.  

The former president told a crowd at a campaign rally Friday that he sometimes feels “totally useless” on his wife’s campaign, the Washington Examiner reported .  

Here’s a sign that he had a point: He was speaking in South Dakota, which has its primary on June 7.  

At the end of a week of ducking renewed questions about her husband’s alleged philandering and potential to meddle in her White House administration, Hillary sent Bill to stump for her in the political mecca of Sioux Falls.  


[When Trump Calls, TV Still Answers]

The 42nd president had this to say to the people of the Mount Rushmore State: “I sometimes feel that I’m totally useless in this election season because I’m a happy grandfather.”  

“I’m not mad enough at anybody,” Clinton continued. “And because the life I spend now is driven by the real world and facts. I mean, we live in kind of a fact-free political universe, you know?”  


[Hillary, Please Leave Bill at Home]

Meanwhile, Hillary told CNN on Thursday that she would not respond to her presumptive Republican rival Donald Trump’s attempts to revive four-decade-old rape allegations against her husband or his suggestion that she might want to keep an eye on the former president in the White House.  

“He can say what he wants to say,” Hillary said.  

Bill’s next stop: Fargo, North Dakota.  The Peace Garden State also holds its Democratic primary on June 7.   

Contact Akin at stephanieakin@rollcall.com and follow her on Twitter at @stephanieakin.


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