Tony Leys

The Des Moines Register

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Former president Bill Clinton hit the Iowa campaign trail Thursday for his wife, Hillary, vouching for her readiness to assume his old job.

“I do not believe in my lifetime, we have had a president that was more prepared, not only by experience but by temperament, to step in to this incredible mix of promise and peril. Ever. I don’t think it’s close,” he told more than 500 people gathered at the Czech and Slovak Museum.

Bill Clinton, who has long been known as a crowd-pleasing speaker, drew at least as many people as his wife has been seeing in recent rallies in urban areas. He kept a low profile in her campaign until this week, when he started giving speeches on her behalf in New Hampshire and Iowa. He spoke in his trademark, informal style, using his slightly hoarse, Southern voice to encourage Democratic voters to rally around Hillary.

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Clinton recounted his wife’s long record of service, such as arranging legal representation for poor people and helping obtain preschool classes and health insurance for millions of children.

“She never touched anything she didn’t make better,” he said. “She’s the best change-maker I ever saw.”

Clinton, who also was to appear in Dubuque later Thursday, asked Iowans to volunteer for his wife and show up for her in the Feb. 1 caucuses. He said she is the Democrat best able to prevent Republicans from regaining the White House and reversing the country’s gains on the economy, the environment and health care. “You’ll never have a chance to vote for a better candidate,” he said, drawing a standing ovation as he concluded his speech.

Afterward, voter Dino Irwin said he was glad to see Bill Clinton out on the trail for Hillary. The former president naturally draws the spotlight, Irwin said. “That’s Bill,” he said. “He’s gifted. Bill knows how to reach people. You can feel the sincerity.”

Irwin, 72, of Cedar Rapids, supported Barack Obama over Hillary Clinton in the 2008 Iowa caucuses. But he believes she has become a more experienced, confident candidate since then. She no longer needs to worry about her eloquent husband outshining her, he said.

Republicans, including national front-runner Donald Trump, have responded to Bill Clinton’s participation in the campaign by dredging up the reputation he had as a womanizer before and during his presidency.

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Clinton declined to engage in that discussion when reporters asked him about it during a brief meet-the-voters visit to the nearby NewBo City Market before his speech Thursday afternoon.

Several voters who shook hands with Clinton during the surprise visit to the market said they doubted his past controversies would hamstring his wife’s campaign.

“That’s old news. It’s an old story,” said Steve Waller, who described himself as a “dyed-in-the-wool Republican.”

Waller, who plans to back Carly Fiorina in the Republican caucuses, had been sitting at a counter when Clinton strode up with a horde of media in tow. “Welcome back to Iowa!” Waller said, taking the former president’s hand.

Afterward, Waller said he doubted Bill Clinton’s baggage would weigh down Hillary’s campaign. “I think she’s got enough baggage herself,” he said. “I don’t think his baggage will affect her, even to those who want to see baggage.”

Voter Megan Abel of Cedar Rapids was thrilled to meet Clinton in person. “I’ve only seen you in wax!” she told him, referring to a museum visit.

After he walked on, Abel said she voted for Clinton when he was president. She hasn’t decided whether to support Hillary Clinton, and she’s unsure how talk of Bill’s past could affect the campaign. “I think it could hurt her or help her, depending on the voter.”

Toni Hamos, 67, was giddy after shaking the former president’s hand. “He walked right up to me. I about fainted. I feel like I’m in seventh grade,” she joked afterward. “I thought he was awesome as president. I think he’ll be a great asset in the White House.”

Hamos said she hopes voters and the media think about the good things Bill Clinton did for the country instead of some controversial things he did in his personal life. “The American people should focus on that instead of all this garbage,” she said of the attempts to resurrect old controversies.