Two protesters were removed from the Bluffton Recreation Center on Friday afternoon after a heated exchange with Former President Bill Clinton over his wife Hillary Clinton's response to the 2012 terrorist attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

A man, who identified himself only as a former Marine, and a woman interrupted the 42nd president about 45 minutes into a roughly hourlong stump speech for Hillary Clinton, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for president.

The man, who said he served four tours in Iraq and was a former drill sergeant at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, said the former secretary of state should take responsibility for the attacks that killed four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens.

"The thing is we had four lives killed in Benghazi, and your wife tried to cover it up," the man said to Clinton among an avalanche of boos from a crowd of about 500 inside the gymnasium. "Those were four American lives."

Clinton interjected, pleading with the man, to no avail, to listen to his counterargument.

"I heard your speech. (The crowd) heard your speech. You listen to me now," Clinton said. "I'm not your commander-in-chief anymore, but if I were, I'd tell you to be more polite. Now sit down."

As more shouting ensued, including cries from the crowd for the man to "shut up," the man was escorted out by Beaufort County sheriff's deputies. The female protester picked up where he left off but was also removed despite Clinton's request to allow both people to remain at the event.

After the spat, Clinton defended his wife, noting she and Stevens were personal friends.

"You can imagine how she feels when people make these charges," he said. "Chris Stevens was the most popular non-Libyan in Libya at the time. ... She lost a lot of sleep over this, believe me."

Clinton accused Republicans of trying to "politicize the deaths of brave Americans" as they seek to topple Hillary in the race for the presidency.

"Hillary has never once played politics with the lives of our men and women in uniform," he said.

Just before the protest, Clinton touted his wife as the best-positioned candidate to keep Americans safe.

"We have to make the world safer for us and our friends and people who love freedom all over the world," Clinton said. "We have to do that with a strong military and tough diplomacy, and with a relentless effort to get more allies and fewer enemies.

"I think Hillary is the best qualified by light years to be able to do that."

Friday's stop in Bluffton was the last of several "Get Out the Vote" rallies Clinton held in South Carolina for his wife this week ahead of today's Democratic primary.

National polling has shown Hillary Clinton with a commanding lead in the Palmetto State over Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Clinton praised his wife's progressive record on the economy, health care and education and said she stands in stark contrast to the five remaining Republican hopefuls.

"We don't need to build walls. We need to build ladders of opportunity," he said.

Clinton drew several local supporters of his two-term presidency to the event on Friday.

"We had the best economic times we've ever had when he was president," Hilton Head Island resident Peggy Walczak said.

Sun City residents Phyllis Ivers and Arnold Seidman agreed that Hillary Clinton would build on her husband's legacy.

"If people want to believe the lies out there, there's nothing I can do, but she's absolutely the best candidate," Phyllis Ivers said. "She's a woman of great intelligence who has the right experience. I'm concerned about the possibility that's out there, but I have confidence that the American people won't elect that carnival barker (referring to GOP frontrunner Donald Trump) on the other side."