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Clinton Camp Responds To Weiner's 2016 Comment

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- The Clinton camp is firing back after embattled New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner hinted Monday that Hillary Clinton may be eyeing a run for president in 2016.

During a nearly 40 minute interview with the viral website Buzzfeed, Weiner was asked if he knows what role his wife Huma Abedin, a longtime aide to Hillary Clinton, would play in Clinton's 2016 campaign.

Weiner said, "I do." When pressed on what it will be, Weiner said, "I'm not telling you."

Many took it as a sign from an insider that Clinton is mounting a 2016 presidential bid, despite the fact that her camp has remained tight-lipped on the matter for months, CBS News reported.

On Tuesday, Clinton spokesman Nick Merrill told CBS News, "We have absolutely no clue what he was talking about. Maybe his campaign does. Doubt it though."

Weiner responded to questions from reporters about the comment Tuesday night following a mayoral debate. He claimed his comment was misunderstood.

"The question was do I know what my wife is doing and the answer is yes, it was a joke," Weiner said. "Have you ever heard that sometimes people say yes but if I tell you I have to kill you. It was a joke. Everyone laughed. It was a joke."

During the interview Monday, Weiner also said he hasn't spoken to the Clintons in months. He said he's keeping his distance from his colleagues in public life in general because he knows he has a lot to prove to them.

Weiner was leading the polls until he revealed last month that he continued to send sexually explicit messages online to women after he resigned from Congress for similar behavior.

He's now in fourth place, trailing behind Public Advocate Bill de Blasio, City Council Speaker Christine Quinn and ex-Comptroller Bill Thompson. Comptroller John Liu is fifth.

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