To many observers the comment was way over the top and could give some deranged person an excuse to do harm to front running Democratic candidate Barack Obama, the junior senator from Illinois.

Clinton, who later expressed regret over the remark, made it to the editorial board of a South Dakota newspaper, the Sioux Falls (South Dakota) Argus Leader, when explaining that other races for the Democratic presidential nomination had lasted into June.

"My husband (Bill Clinton) did not wrap up the nomination in 1992 until he won the California primary somewhere in the middle of June, right? We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California," she said.

Clinton's comments drew a sharp response from the Obama campaign.

"Senator Clinton's statement before the Argus Leader editorial board was unfortunate and has no place in this campaign," said Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton.