MADISON - Bill Clinton knows how to inspire a crowd.
Before the former president even walked into the Stock Pavilion on the University of Wisconsin campus Thursday, the crowd was filled with anticipation.
College students, seniors, middle-aged people and parents with young children filled the building waiting for the man who would tell them why his wife should be elected president of the United States.
Throughout the crowd, people held signs in support of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and cheered every time her name was mentioned.
They booed when speakers criticized Pres. George W. Bush and his latest budget proposal and applauded whenever they were told what Hillary Clinton would do to change America's future.
There was a noticeable groan when Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk was announced, but the crowd roared when Bill Clinton's name was mentioned; he followed Falk to the platform, making his way among the front-row guests, shaking hands and smiling as he climbed the stairs.
He was the reason the audience braved the cold temperatures and stood in line for more than an hour.
Clinton, standing in front of a banner that said "Solutions for America" in between two large American flags, told the crowd he's enjoyed the campaign this year. He said there hasn't been any candidate he didn't like.
But he didn't come to talk in generalities.
He came to fire up the crowd to support Hillary in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. She will be able to unite the country, he said.
"We do better when we're working together," he said as the crowd cheered. "We are bound together by our common values. We should be united."
Clinton's comments often were interrupted by cheers and shouts of "Hillary." The former president laughed when a few students yelled, "We love you, Bill."
The loudest applause came when Clinton asked people to think about his administration and Bush's administration.
"Let's compare the last seven years with the eight years before it," he smiled.
He criticized the Bush administration for the war in Iraq, for not working harder to combat global warming and for not observing the Geneva Convention when it comes to prisoners.
But the issue at hand is the Wisconsin primary, and Clinton didn't want anyone to go away without knowing he believes his wife is the best candidate for the job.
He talked about her work with children and her efforts to help abused children. He talked about how much she wants to change America.
"Better than speeches are solutions," he said, in a veiled reference to her opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. "You have to decide if you want your president to be in the solutions process."
He said Sen. Clinton's goals, if elected, are to make sure the people of the United States are better off than they were when she took office and to make sure all children and grandchildren have a brighter future because of what's she does.
"You have to make a decision, and you have to make the decision clearly and with an eye to the future," Clinton told the crowd as they continued to chant Hillary Clinton's name.
Before the former president even walked into the Stock Pavilion on the University of Wisconsin campus Thursday, the crowd was filled with anticipation.
College students, seniors, middle-aged people and parents with young children filled the building waiting for the man who would tell them why his wife should be elected president of the United States.
Throughout the crowd, people held signs in support of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and cheered every time her name was mentioned.
They booed when speakers criticized Pres. George W. Bush and his latest budget proposal and applauded whenever they were told what Hillary Clinton would do to change America's future.
There was a noticeable groan when Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk was announced, but the crowd roared when Bill Clinton's name was mentioned; he followed Falk to the platform, making his way among the front-row guests, shaking hands and smiling as he climbed the stairs.
He was the reason the audience braved the cold temperatures and stood in line for more than an hour.
Clinton, standing in front of a banner that said "Solutions for America" in between two large American flags, told the crowd he's enjoyed the campaign this year. He said there hasn't been any candidate he didn't like.
But he didn't come to talk in generalities.
He came to fire up the crowd to support Hillary in Tuesday's Wisconsin primary. She will be able to unite the country, he said.
"We do better when we're working together," he said as the crowd cheered. "We are bound together by our common values. We should be united."
Clinton's comments often were interrupted by cheers and shouts of "Hillary." The former president laughed when a few students yelled, "We love you, Bill."
The loudest applause came when Clinton asked people to think about his administration and Bush's administration.
"Let's compare the last seven years with the eight years before it," he smiled.
He criticized the Bush administration for the war in Iraq, for not working harder to combat global warming and for not observing the Geneva Convention when it comes to prisoners.
But the issue at hand is the Wisconsin primary, and Clinton didn't want anyone to go away without knowing he believes his wife is the best candidate for the job.
He talked about her work with children and her efforts to help abused children. He talked about how much she wants to change America.
"Better than speeches are solutions," he said, in a veiled reference to her opponent, Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. "You have to decide if you want your president to be in the solutions process."
He said Sen. Clinton's goals, if elected, are to make sure the people of the United States are better off than they were when she took office and to make sure all children and grandchildren have a brighter future because of what's she does.
"You have to make a decision, and you have to make the decision clearly and with an eye to the future," Clinton told the crowd as they continued to chant Hillary Clinton's name.