Richardson: Bill Clinton Accepting the Role of 'First Spouse'

Former President Bill Clinton has "accepted the fact" that if wife Hillary wins her bid for the White House that he'd be in the role of "first spouse," and not her co-president, Bill Richardson, who held two senior positions in Clinton's administration, said Tuesday.

"He has accepted the fact that he'll be first spouse, and he's not going to interfere visibly in her presidency," Richardson, also the former governor of New Mexico, told CNN. "But I think he will be giving a lot of advice. She said she'll use him on economic issues."

Richardson said he sees Clinton taking the role of a "special envoy, foreign policy-wise. You send Bill Clinton, because he is loved in Africa, Asia, Latin America."

The former president, though, will take care not to eclipse Clinton if she is elected, but will rather take the role "of a supportive spouse who brings a lot of assets and substance, and good memories from American voters," said Richardson.

Clinton will speak before delegates on Tuesday night, and while Richardson found first lady Michelle Obama's speech to be "fabulous," if there is anyone who could do any better, "it would be Bill Clinton."

"He has had classic speeches at the Democratic conventions," Richardson said. "He is the most popular Democrat in the country. People turn out to see him everywhere. They want to touch him. He is Hillary's biggest asset."

And if he becomes the first spouse, Richardson said, he'll probably be the most active one ever.

"Bill Clinton, you know, you don't hide somebody that can bring enormous experience and policy understanding to so many issues," said Richardson. "He is part of the package. That's a good package."

Clinton's numbers have dropped by 16 percent last summer to 50 percent as the Republican Party has been launching attacks on him, CNN reported, but Richardson said he believes the American people have already dealt with many parts of Clinton's past, including the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

"I think you have to talk about the future," he said. "This is what Bill will do tonight . . . I think you're going to see the Sanders supporters, when Bill Clinton gets up there, you're going to see them cheering."

Related Stories:

• Bill Clinton in Fundraising Email for Hillary: 'Picture Donald Trump in a Crisis'
• Al Gore Skips Convention, Endorses Hillary For President