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Bill: I Made Mistakes but I'm No Racist

'There were things I wish I hadn't said,' he tells ABC

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 4, 2008 6:56 AM CDT

(Newser) – Speaking in his first broadcast interview since the Democratic primaries, Bill Clinton conceded he made mistakes during his wife's presidential campaign, but declared to ABC News: “I am not a racist.” He said he has regrets about the campaign, but “not the ones you think"—though he refused to elaborate.

"There are things that I wish I'd urged her to do. Things I wish I'd said. Things I wish I hadn't said," said Clinton. His comments about Barack Obama's South Carolina primary victory, indicating a black man was more likely to win the state, sparked a storm of controversy, but Clinton insisted: "I never made a racist comment, and I didn't attack him personally."

Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and her husband Bill Clinton take the stage a rally in New York, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and her husband Bill Clinton take the stage a rally in New York, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
In this May 30, 2008 file photo, former President Bill Clinton delivers his remarks at the announcement of the formation of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in New York.
In this May 30, 2008 file photo, former President Bill Clinton delivers his remarks at the announcement of the formation of the Tony Blair Faith Foundation in New York.   (AP Photo/Richard Drew)
Former President Bill Clinton applauds as he listens to his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, speak to supporters at her Montana and South Dakota primary night event in New York, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.
Former President Bill Clinton applauds as he listens to his wife, Hillary Rodham Clinton, speak to supporters at her Montana and South Dakota primary night event in New York, Tuesday, June 3, 2008.   (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
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