Washington, Nov 9: Former US President Bill Clinton has downplayed perceived criticism of Barack Obama in his newly-released book, saying that his Democratic successor has "done a better job than he's getting credit for."

Clinton writes in the book, "Back To Work", that the White House should have sought to raise the debt ceiling when Democrats still controlled both houses of Congress.

However, he says that he has since been told that they did try to do so, but still faced a Republican filibuster.

"I think he's done a better job than he's getting credit for," the Los Angeles Times quoted Clinton, as saying.

He also compared the situation Obama now faces - with a hostile Republican faction in Congress - to what he dealt with in his first term.

"Not much happened. We fought. Then there were two government shutdowns. And the voters decided they agreed with the approach I was taking," he said.

"His politics will improve when the economy gets better. But the American people need to send a signal to Congress that they want them to work together - not that he's right all the time or that I was right," he added. (ANI)