CLAREMONT – Former President Bill Clinton yesterday attracted capacity crowds to three western New Hampshire stump speeches on behalf of his wife's presidential campaign.

He stressed the need for the next president to tackle increasing inequalities of income, education and access to health care in America. He touted his wife's dedication to "green" energy, emphasized her ability to solve problems and praised her proposal to put a 90-day moratorium on home foreclosures as a way to address a crisis in the mortgage industry.

"What I want you to know is I'd be for Hillary even if we'd never been married, because I think she's the best person to address these challenges," he told about 750 people at Stevens High School in Claremont.

The audience in Claremont was made up mostly of high school students who are too young to vote.

Nevertheless, the students were energized by the former president's speech. Sophomore Trevor Hall said he'd vote for Hillary Clinton if he could.

"She'd make a great president because she's been in the White House before," Hall said. "She's been around problems, and she'd probably have a better chance at solving them, especially with him at her side." Hall's classmate, Josh Lucas, said he was impressed by Clinton's public speaking abilities and charisma.

"I've heard some things about him, but he seems like a pretty cool guy."

After Clinton's appearance in Lebanon High School, it was clear at least some people came to see the former president, not to support his wife's presidential bid.

At the conclusion of his speech, President Clinton captivated the audience of about 500 people when he said that if the American people trusted him to fight for them, and he could bring one person with him, he would trust the job to his wife, the U.S. senator from New York.

"I would take Hillary into that fire for you, because I know, I know what kind of president she'd be, and I hope you'll give her the chance to serve," he said.

Deb Kennedy, a Lebanon elementary school teacher, said afterwards that Clinton was a phenomenal speaker.

"I thought he was going to cry, I really did," she said, referring to his final sentiment, "and yet he was in total control of that moment. This whole room was silent, but I am absolutely not going to vote for his wife."

A strong supporter of Sen. John Edwards for the presidency, Kennedy said she disagrees with Hillary Clinton on several policy issues, especially her vote to designate the Iranian National Guard as a terrorist organization.

Jim Dorsey of West Lebanon, a Japanese literature professor at Dartmouth College, said he's considering a vote for Hillary Clinton, and though he remains undecided, Bill Clinton's speech was a push in her direction. "It was not only well delivered, but also hit on the points that are important to me," he said.

Bill Clinton said the administration must stop giving tax benefits to the richest people in the nation, including himself, and start taking responsibility for its high-priced wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. "Even Mexico loans us money," he said. "Doesn't that embarrass you?

"This is a dumb system here, and you need a problem solver who can get people together and get the show on the road," he said.

President Clinton, who started the day at Keene State College before moving on to Claremont and Lebanon, also thanked western New Hampshire voters.

"Some of you who were around in 1992 may remember that this part of New Hampshire saved my proverbial bacon," he said in Lebanon, "and I thank you for that."