'A few years ago he would've been carrying our bags'

'A few years ago he would've been carrying our bags': New book reveals the insensitive racial remark Bill Clinton made about Barack Obama in 2008

• Ex-President said to have made remark in 2008 before later backing Obama

Bill Clinton made an insensitive racial remark about Barack Obama while his wife battled him for the Democratic nomination vote, it was claimed today.

The former U.S. president, whose wife Hillary battled Obama in the 2008 primary campaign, is said to have remarked of the current president: 'A few years ago, this guy would have been carrying our bags.'

Clinton allegedly made the insensitive remark to Senator Ted Kennedy in 2008, while trying to convince him to endorse Hillary for the Democratic nomination, according to the New Yorker.

Rift: Clinton, pictured in 2009 having given Obama his backing, is alleged to have made the racially insensitive remark about the current president in 2008.

Claim: Clinton is said to have made the remark to late Senator Ted Kennedy (right), who eventually backed Obama for Democratic Nomination

Writer Ryan Lizza said he heard about the comment from NBC newsman Tim Russert, who died in 2008.

Four years ago Clinton and Obama had clashed following Hillary Clinton's failed bid for Presidency, which she lost to Obama.

Although Clinton is said to have since given his backing to the current U.S. President, his remark is the latest in a series of apparent outbursts against Obama.

The ill-advised comment follows claims of another remark attributed to Clinton in 2010, where he is said to have commented: 'A few years ago, this guy would have been getting us coffee.'

'A few years ago he would've been carrying our bags'