Bill Clinton bats for Hillary in New York campaign

The former president spoke to a number of labor unions in Manhattan.

Bill Clinton launched New York tour to campaign for Hillary. (Getty)

Former President Bill Clinton stepped up to the plate and batted for his wife and Democratic frontrunner, Hillary Clinton, as she faces off against rival Bernie Sanders to take the state of New York in the upcoming primaries.

Mr Clinton, 69, is making his rounds throughout New York City, speaking to a number labor unions Thursday afternoon to make the case for another Clinton presidency. Speaking to the members of SEIU 1199 healthcare workers union, the two-term president outlined Ms Clinton’s position on issues pertinent to the union, such as raising the federal minimum wage, equal pay, immigration reform, and education.

“The reason this election is so crazy is 87 per cent of the people haven’t had a raise since the [2008] financial crisis,” said Mr Clinton. “Half the people, if you adjust for inflation, are living on what they were making the last day I was president. That was 15 years ago. That’s too long to wait.”

Additionally, Mr Clinton defended the Democratic front-runner against Republican attacks the former Secretary of State has endured in recent years, noting that her approval ratings high during her public service.

“When she left the Secretary of State’s job she got a 69 per cent approval rating. People liked her ... before the Republicans started in on her.”

Mr Clinton shifted his focus to Mr Sanders for a portion of the speech, citing his voting record against Ms Clinton’s while she served in the Senate, and pointed out that Mr Sanders voted against immigration reform six times and voted against background checks for required for gun ownership five times.

When it came to education, he added, instead of providing free public college for all Americans — a popular position of Mr Sanders’ — Ms Clinton would require Americans with higher incomes to pay for college while offering “debt-free education” for people who go to public college and Historically Black Colleges and University.

While most of the appearance focused on Ms Clinton’s public service record and policy platforms, Mr Clinton still found a moment to take a subtle jab at controversial GOP candidate, Donald Trump.

Referencing a recent Politifact accuracy ranking, Mr Clinton said: “Of the candidates in the race, she has gotten the highest ratings for being accurate. … Higher than her opponent. Higher than all the Republicans. And way higher than Mr Trump.”

In the 27 March piece published by Politifact, the fact-checking organization gave Ms Clinton a 13 per cent “False” rating, while Mr Trump received a 42 per cent false rating.

However, Politifact gave Ohio Governor John Kasich a 25 per cent “True” rating — one percentage point over Ms Clinton.

With the 19 April primary vote, Ms Clinton has all but secured New York, holding a 12 point advantage over Mr Sanders, 54-42, according to RealClear Politics.