CNN

McCain said Sunday a match up between he and Clinton would not be boring.

(CNN) - John McCain Sunday brushed aside Bill Clinton's recent comments that his wife and the Arizona senator have such a good relationship that a general election match up between to two will likely "put voters to sleep."

'"I thank [Bill] Clinton for his endorsement," McCain said laughing, in an interview on NBC's Meet the Press. "But let me just say, I will have a respectful debate whether it is Sen. Obama, whether it is Sen. Clinton, or whoever it is," McCain said. "But it won't be boring, it won't be boring."

"We are going to talk about more or less spending, higher or lower taxes," he continued. "We are going to be talking about the role of government in healthcare, and we are going to be talking about the struggle we are in against radical Islamic extremism. It's going to be anything but boring."

McCain also laughed off the notion the former president's comments were an underhanded attempt to damage McCain's standing among Republican voters.

Bill Clinton's comments came at an event in Spartanburg, South Carolina Friday, following a voter's question on whether Hillary Clinton will be able to work with Republicans. The former president pointed out how his wife has successfully worked with several senators across the aisle — including one of the current GOP presidential candidates.

"She and John McCain are very close," he said. "They always laugh that if they wound up being the nominees of their party, it would be the most civilized election in American history, and they're afraid they'd put the voters to sleep because they like and respect each other."

– CNN Ticker Producer Alexander Mooney