Did Bill tell Barack to 'kiss my ass'?

A senior Democrat with ties to Bill Clinton reportedly says the former president is so upset with Barack Obama that the party's presumptive nominee will have to "kiss [his] ass" before he gives his full support.

President Clinton denies making such a statement. But according to a report in the London Telegraph:

[H]is lingering fury has shocked his friends. The Democrat told the Telegraph: "He's been angry for a while. But everyone thought he would get over it. He hasn't. I've spoken to a couple of people who he's been in contact with and he is mad as hell.

"He's saying he's not going to reach out, that Obama has to come to him. One person told me that Bill said Obama would have to quote kiss my ass close quote, if he wants his support.

"You can't talk like that about Obama - he's the nominee of your party, not some house boy you can order around.

"Hillary's just getting on with it and so should Bill."

Last Friday, Obama spoke highly of Bill Clinton at a New Hampshire unity rally he held with his former rival, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.

"I know how much we need both Bill and Hillary Clinton as a party and as a country in the months and years to come. They have done so much great work," Obama said. "We need them badly. Not just my campaign, but the American people need their service and their vision and their wisdom in the months and years to come because that's how we're going to bring about unity in the Democratic Party, and that's how we're going to bring about unity in America, and that's how we're going to deliver the American dream in every corner of every state of this great nation that we love," he said.

Bill Clinton did not attend Friday's unity rally. He was in London for a special celebration of Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday. The former president has denied the recent accusations of animosity, reportedly explaining that he never uses such "dirty" language, and re-stating that he appreciates and supports Obama.

But President Clinton did raise some eyebrows last week when he issued a terse statement, through a spokesman, endorsing Obama. "President Clinton is obviously committed to doing whatever he can and is asked to do to ensure Senator Obama is the next president of the United States," the statement said.