PORTLAND (AP) – Former President Bill Clinton on Thursday urged Mainers to support his wife’s presidential bid in the state’s Democratic caucuses, saying she has the plan, the vision and the experience to hit the ground running if elected president.

In a 55-minute speech at the Portland Expo, Clinton ran down a laundry list of items that he said would make his wife, Hillary Clinton, the best president. She would restore the “middle class dream,” increase the quality of and access to education, and raise America’s standing in the international community, he said.

“My case for her is she’s got the best vision and the best plan, and she’s the best change maker,” he said to a cheering crowd that campaign officials estimated at 1,700.

The rally came two days before Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, the two contenders for the Democratic presidential nomination, are set to come to Maine themselves to pump up support.

On Saturday morning, Hillary Clinton is scheduled to attend a “Solutions for America” town meeting event at the University of Maine. That afternoon, Obama is to speak at a “Stand for Change” rally in Bangor.

Those events come a day before Maine Democrats from about 420 towns hold their caucuses and presidential preference votes.

Bill Clinton arrived in Maine on Thursday afternoon, and he and Gov. John Baldacci went shopping at the L.L. Bean store in Freeport.

They then stopped at Becky’s Diner on the Portland waterfront.

At the Portland Expo, people held “Hillary” signs and cheered as Clinton touted his wife’s achievements and stated her positions on universal health care, tax cuts, trade issues and renewable energy.

His wife would also use diplomacy “with friend and foe alike,” Clinton said, “and military force will be an absolute last resort.”

Earlier Thursday, Baldacci joined a couple of dozen legislators at a State House rally for Hillary Clinton, hours before her husband arrived in Maine.

While saying Hillary Clinton has been responsive to Mainers’ needs in the past and shows concern for working men and women, the Democratic governor said both Clinton and Obama are strong candidates, adding, “I think it’s great we’re having both candidates here.”

Baldacci encouraged Clinton and Obama to hold a debate in Maine. Clinton also issued a statement in which she invited the Illinois senator to join her in the Orono event “so that the people of Maine have a clear idea of the differences between us.

“It’s time for the people of this country and the caucus-goers of Maine to pick a president. I hope Senator Obama will accept my invitation to help them do just that,” she said.

The Obama campaign had no immediate response.

At Thursday’s Augusta rally, two former John Edwards supporters – Senate President Beth Edmonds of Freeport and Rep. Emily Cain of Orono – said they were now supporting Clinton.

Maine Republicans held their caucuses last weekend and Mitt Romney won with 52 percent of the vote.

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