Bill Clinton stumps for Hillary in Camden County

Former President Bill Clinton, campaigning for his wife in Camden County this morning, said presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D., N.Y.) has "always worked for change."

Clinton, speaking at Camden County College, cited her work on children's issues in Arkansas, including adoption and education. He also said his wife would strengthen the nation's middle class.

"These are tough times. We can bring America back. We've done it before," Clinton said. "She will do it."

More than 20 states - including New Jersey and Delaware - will vote in primaries Feb. 5, the day many analysts believe the field could be set in the 2008 presidential race.

Hillary Clinton has a strong lead in polls over U.S. Sen. Barack Obama (D., Ill.) in New Jersey but Obama's two-to-one victory over Clinton in South Carolina on Saturday, coupled with a endorsements from two Kennedys, has Obama supporters giddy with the possibilities.

The former president has been a powerful and controversial surrogate for his wife.

This morning's rally was open to the public in Papiano Gymnasium on the Blackwood campus in Gloucester Township.

About 50 people were already gathered at the doors of the gymnasium before 9 a.m. waiting to see Clinton speak.

Among them was Camden County College student Bryan Digi, 19, of Sicklerville. Digi and several friends said they were there because they "love Bill and Hillary."

Digi said he would vote for candidate Clinton because of "her charisma, her experience, health care, global warming, green energy, and the war."

Also part of the scene was George Rubsam, from the office of U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ). Rubsam stood outside collecting signatures to put Lautenberg on the ballot for the June 3 state primary election.

Sally Cooke, 51, of Blackwood, is an independent voter who plans to vote in the Feb. 5 presidential primary "in order to vote for Hillary."

Cooke said she hopes the Clintons stop their attacks on Barak Obama "because they are powerful enough without that."