London, April 14: In a sign of the shifting balance of power and ambition in the Clintons’ relationship, Bill Clinton is doing what was once unthinkable: joking about his affair with Monica Lewinsky.

For years after the scandal that nearly destroyed his presidency, Washington’s most famous intern could not be mentioned in his or Hillary’s presence. But now, with Hillary stepping up the tempo of her undeclared campaign for the White House, the couple have clearly concluded it is time to reintroduce the Lewinsky scandal to the public lest it returns to haunt Hillary.

The former president drew chuckles from an audience at a Democratic fund-raiser in Washington when he said that his current focus, co-ordinating aid, was not the most spicy episode in his life.

“It’s something I like working on because it’s not a sexy topic,” he said. “I’ve had enough headlines to last me five lifetimes. I like boring. Boring is good.”