Bill Clinton's genius mostly helped Bill Clinton

The visibility of Bill Clinton in this year's presidential race has got Democrats thinking more critically about his political legacy (Ezra Klein):

[...] Clinton proved masterful in repelling the [Republican] onslaught when his back was to the wall, but the near-death experiences and unexpected comebacks that defined his career failed to provide him a solid base from which he could systematically build a movement or sell his beliefs. Clinton's political genius manifested itself not in the construction of a greater and grander Democratic Party, or a new and expanded progressive majority, but in the sheer fact of his survival, and his ability to govern competently, and at times brilliantly, against such odds.

Clinton's time in office had its successes and its failures. But politically speaking, Clinton enjoyed the successes and the party often endured the failures. The party makeup of Congress tells the story: At the start of Clinton's term, Democrats controlled 57 Senate seats to the 43 held by the Republicans. In the House, they held the chamber 258 to 176. By 2000, the final year of Clinton's term, Republicans controlled the Senate, holding 55 seats to the Democrats' 45. They also ran the House, with 223 seats to the Democrats' 211. Large Democratic majorities had given way to total Republican dominance. [...]

In light of this record, Clinton's behavior during the primary has not been out of the ordinary at all. His political talent has, historically, been for getting himself elected. He's just not that good at getting others elected.