Bill Clinton: “Well, on the Republican side, I don't know how to assess it because it depends, obviously, as any primary battle does…”

“Well, on the Republican side, I don't know how to assess it because it depends, obviously, as any primary battle does, on how they distinguish themselves from each other and who votes in the primary and how the various States view it. And I simply don't know enough about their primary electorate to do that. I'm going to let them decide who they want to put up, and they'll do that in due course. Bob Casey is a man I served with as Governor. I have a high regard for him, and I have a lot of respect for him. And I kept in pretty close touch with him and his family when he went through his medical problems. And I think he's a remarkable, resilient person. He is a committed anti- abortion, anti-choice person who has served with distinction in government. We agree on many, many issues. I believe you can be pro- choice and anti-abortion; he doesn't believe that. And he believes that the Democratic Party has been badly hurt by the abortion issue and that it's more important than any other issue. And he believes that with a real depth of conviction. And he will have to do whatever he thinks is right, and he will do that. I am sure he will do whatever he thinks is right. I think when you look at the alternatives between the Democrats and the Republicans and the fact that the Republicans seem to like to--it's hard to know where they really stand on that issue; they talk one way and act another. I would hope that he would think about that and think about what would happen in the event of a campaign. But that's his decision, and whatever he does, I will respect. Mr. Blitzer. Still on politics, Mr. President, some of your political aides talk about you as the ``43 percent President,'' referring to the percentage of the vote you got in '92. Is it the operating assumption around here and with you that there will be a third candidate in the general election, that there will be a Democrat--you, a Republican, and someone else?”