Bill Clinton criticizes Bush on the stump

BLACKWOOD , Fla., Jan. 29 (UPI) -- Former President Bill Clinton stumped in New Jersey for his wife and Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary, focusing his criticism on the Bush administration.

Clinton spent most of his 30-minute speech in Camden County College in Blackwood enumerating the qualifications of his wife, who has enjoyed a substantial lead in the polls over Illinois Sen. Barack Obama in the run-up to New Jersey's Feb. 5 primary vote, The (Newark) Star-Ledger reported. At stake are 127 delegates.

"These are truly complicated times," Clinton told the crowd of about 1,000 to the college's gymnasium. "But we can bring America back."

The former president discussed Sen. Clinton's agenda when compared with that of Bush.

"If you want a better economy than we had in the '90s, elect Hillary. She is a proven change agent," he said.

The former president found himself in the center of controversy over whether the Clinton campaign went too far in its attacks on Obama just before the South Carolina primary, which Obama handily won.