Bill Clinton has refused to rule out the possibility that his wife Hillary will launch a second attempt at becoming president of the United States.
Speaking to BBC's Newsnight on Wednesday evening, the former president said discussions about whether Hillary, currently US secretary of state, would try to secure the White House in future were "a long way away" but said she had a lot of support from the American public.
"Well she says she intends to retire from public life and work with me in our non-governmental organisations, I am open to her doing whatever she wants to do," he said.
"I think she is the ablest person have ever known or worked with, you can say my opinion is biased and it is.
"I also think if you look at support she has received from the American people, they feel that way too.
"But that's a long way away, and, you know, we're not kids anymore, and there are a lot of people who want to be president, and a lot of things can happen between now and then so I think you have to take her at her word.
He added: "Let's see what happens."
Bill Clinton's comments come with less than four months to go until the presidential election, where incumbent Barack Obama faces Republican challenger Mitt Romney.
Clinton added: "I am more worried about trying to re-elect president Obama right now."
Hillary Clinton's lost the Democratic nomination for president to Obama in 2008, and has since served as Obama's secretary of state.