Bill Clinton refused to say that President Obama should heed James Carville’s advice to panic.

Noting that Obama had faced the economic wreckage left from the financial crisis, Clinton said that Obama had been dealt a “very difficult hand.”

“He’s on the right track,” Clinton said, referring to Obama’s introduction of a jobs plan. “The poll numbers don’t mean much right now. … Finally, he’s got a plan he can push.”

Clinton emphasized that Obama’s plan could increase GDP growth by 1.3 to 2 percent, and could reduce the unemployment rate.

But when Meet the Press host David Gregory reiterated the question about whether Obama should follow Carville’s advice, Clinton paused a moment before answering.

“No,” he said finally, “because he’s got a good economic plan. The President never does the country much good by panicking. I know what James meant. James meant that we need a political turn.”

“As long as he’s got a specific plan out there,” he added, “and the American people can evaluate it compared to what the Republicans want and see what they do, I think that politically that’s the best you can do.”

Clinton also brushed off a Bloomberg poll that showed that a third of Americans think the nation would be better off with Hillary Clinton as president.

“I’m proud of her,” he said. “And I think that the American people are right that she’s done a really fine job. But she’d be the first to tell you the further you get out of the line of fire, the more popular you’re likely to be. I don’t think you can take that seriously. She’s secretary of state. She’s not president.”

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