The Hill News

Former President Bill Clinton said he "got tickled" by watching Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) announce his candidacy for president.

"I got tickled by watching Governor Perry announce…for president," Clinton said Monday at a fire fighter's conference in New York, according to PolitickerNY. "He's a good looking rascal."

Clinton then took a jab at Perry for criticizing the federal government while also aspiring to be president.

"And he’s saying 'Oh, I’m going to Washington to make sure that the federal government stays as far away from you as possible â€"while I ride on Air Force One and that Marine One helicopter and go to Camp David and travel around the world and! have a good time.'" Clinton said. "I mean, this is crazy."

On Saturday Perry jumped into the GOP presidential field making his announcement in a speech in Charleston, South Carolina. Perry's speech came at roughly the same time as the results of the influential Republican Iowa Straw Poll were announced at the Iowa State Fair in Ames, Iowa. Perry's decision to announce his entrance into the presidential race at about the same time as the announcement of the straw poll results were announced resulted in Perry's name sharing headlines with Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) who came in first in the poll.

On Monday, Perry already began criticizing President Obama and his reelection campaign by saying that Obama has hindered job growth in the U.S.

"Mr. President, you need to free up the employers of this country to create jobs," Perry said.