NASHUA – Former President Bill Clinton embraced Democratic candidate for governor Maggie Hassan, of Exeter, and mocked the Republican Legislature’s record on public education and health care Wednesday night.

In a brisk but forceful appearance, Clinton stumbled twice on how to pronounce Hassan’s last name but otherwise gave a spirited salute to the former state Senate majority leader who faces a primary battle with former Sen. Jackie Cilley, of Barrington.

“She won’t promise you miracles, but she will bring you progress,” Clinton said near the close of a 20-minute speech before about 300 in the Nashua Ballroom of the Radisson Hotel Nashua.

Clinton ridiculed the decisions of the GOP-led Legislature to cut state aid to the University System of New Hampshire by nearly 50 percent and to pass the first reduction in state history of the state tax on cigarettes.

“There’s a great plan for the future of the state of New Hampshire: Smoke more, learn less,” Clinton said.

Clinton drew parallels between the “tea party Congress” that took over control of the U.S. House after the 2010 elections and Republicans who won super-majorities at all levels of N.H. government except the governor’s office the same year.

“I feel almost bad for the tea party Congress in Washington; it might have happened here,” Clinton said.

“They can’t believe they are at 18 percent approval.”

Clinton implored supporters to help voters see the differences between Hassan and the GOP candidates on education, health care and human services.

“Nobody paid attention to what they said they would do when they voted,” Clinton said.

“Politicians are actually more honest than most people think they are.”

And Clinton took on the constitutional interpretations of tea party leaders and lawmakers who embrace the principles.

“If we had a winner-take-all election, there never would have been a U.S. Constitution, a Bill of Rights, and we would not be here,” Clinton said.

In her remarks, Hassan took off after Republican front-runner Ovide Lamontagne’s views on abortion rights, having the state take over Medicare and his support for tax credits for religious and private schools.

“With this election, folks, we face a fundamental choice as a state. Will we let the tea party, with its extreme agenda, consolidate its power by taking the governor’s office?” Hassan said.

On abortion, Hassan claimed Lamontagne would make criminals of women, doctors, “even rape victims.”

James Merrill, Lamontagne’s campaign manager, said Hassan can’t run away from her record as a legislator of supporting higher taxes and more state spending.

“Sen. Hassan’s flailing attacks on Ovide this evening cannot hide the truth of her record as a big government, big spending liberal who would welcome Obamacare to New Hampshire with open arms,” Merrill said in a statement.

“Despite Sen. Hassan’s constant negativity, Ovide will continue to focus on his optimistic, pro-growth, pro-jobs agenda to get our state moving again.”

Like every one of Clinton’s N.H. Democratic rallies since he left office in 2000, this one had the feel of a reunion.

Many of those attending were with Clinton for his first run in 1992 and also helped Hillary Clinton win N.H.’s primary, only to lose the nomination to Barack Obama in 2008.

“Nobody has his ability in 17 sentences to explain issues that are so complex and not only inform but enlighten you about them,” said Nancy Richards-Stower, of Merrimack, who co-hosted one of the first Granite State campaign events for then-candidate Bill Clinton in 1991.

“He’s still got it.”

Grace Kennedy, of Hudson, said Hassan should swipe Clinton’s playbook.

“He always takes these global matters and brings them down to such a simple level and manages to weave in his own personal experience,” said Kennedy, who added that she’s leaning toward supporting Hassan after seeing her and Cilley speak at separate events.

“She should read his speech and steal some of those lines.”

Keith Halloran, of Rindge, said he was impressed with how knowledgeable Clinton was on state issues.

“After all these years, he’s really got his pulse on New Hampshire,” Halloran said.

In September 2007, Hassan supported Hillary Clinton’s campaign, and former President Clinton quipped there were “worse reasons” for him to get in the middle of a primary fight and endorse her.

But former President Clinton said he watched Hassan as a leader of “progressive women” running the Statehouse from 2007-10.

“I watched her and watched the other women Democratic leaders,” Clinton said.

Cilley endorsed Barack Obama’s campaign in 2007, months before Hillary Clinton narrowly defeated him in N.H.

Clinton said both this race for governor and the race for president this fall should be decided over who will help improve the economy quicker and who will lead through consensus and not divisiveness.

“Who will get you back to full employment quickest, and what kind of people do you want to lead you to the same place,” Clinton summed up.

“You should elect Maggie Hassan governor.”

Kevin Landrigan can reached at 321-7040 or klandrigan@nashuatelegraph.com. Also, follow Landrigan on Twitter (@Klandrigan).