"She wants to send a simple big message to the rest of the world -- We're back. America's back," Clinton declared as he criticized the Bush administration's policies on the budget, trade and the environment.

A crowd of mostly young people packed into McCasland Field House on the University of Oklahoma campus Wednesday to hear the former president stump for his wife. He was accompanied by the couple's daughter, Chelsea.

"I came here to ask you to help Hillary make history and build a better future for America," said Clinton, who was interrupted often by cheering and applause from a crowd that included two former Democratic governors -- George Nigh and David Walters.

Clinton promoted his wife's health care program and said she had the best plan to solve the country's economic problems, including the sub-prime mortgage lending debacle.

Hillary Clinton was criticized by fellow Democratic contender Barack Obama on Wednesday for being a polarizing figure who would unite Republicans.

While not mentioning Barack by name, Bill Clinton said his wife had "a stunning record" of working with Republicans to pass legislation and had won over GOP-dominated rural areas in New York.

Clinton drew cheers when he talked about the national deficit and said it was "a matter of conviction" for the former first lady to reduce the debt, as was done during his time as president.

Clinton said the country had been put in a weak position because of the national debt and borrowing from China and other countries.

"We have mortgaged the economic future of the young people in this audience and it's a disgrace and it's wrong," he said.

Clinton said Hillary Clinton will get the country out of Iraq and repair an image problem the country has with the rest of the world because of actions by the Bush administration in such areas as global warming and nuclear weapons.

He said Hillary knows what to do to make sure all Americans have affordable health care coverage and has shown in her years in public life that she can get things done.

"The best argument to vote for her is she's a world class change agent," Clinton said.

Clinton did not refer to the exit from the Democratic race of John Edwards, leaving his wife and Obama alone to battle for hundreds of delegates in the Feb. 5 Super Tuesday primary involving more than 20 states, including Oklahoma.

Clinton was introduced by OU President David Boren, who said the nation faces perhaps its greatest challenges since it was torn apart by the Civil War. Boren, a former U.S. senator and Oklahoma governor, said the next president must be someone who can rise above partisanship to meet the challenges facing the country.

He introduced Clinton as an "old friend." The two were Rhodes Scholars at Oxford. Boren supported Paul Tsongas, a fellow senator, for president in 1992, when Clinton won his first term.

Boren has invited all presidential candidates and their spouses to speak at the university.

Republican Mitt Romney spoke last month to students at the OU Medical Center in Oklahoma City.