ALBUQUERQUE — Surrogates for Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama brought their messages to young voters and Hispanics in New Mexico on Thursday, five days ahead of the state's Democratic presidential caucus.

Former President Clinton told a largely young audience at The University of New Mexico how his wife's presidency would better the economic situation of the future middle class and create a sustainable future that stops global warming.

Across town at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts courted Hispanic voters by talking about Obama's work on immigration reform in the U.S. Senate and wrapping up his speech with a sentence in Spanish.

The former president's message was upbeat as he asked the audience of hundreds to think about how national issues like the economy, the war in Iraq, affordable health care and the environment affect them.

He talked of the fears of recession and the mortgage crisis that has plunged millions of homeowners into foreclosure and his wife's vision to help the middle class.

For starters, he said Hillary Clinton supports more educational grants for college, tax cuts for families with college students and more opportunities to serve the country to earn money for college.

He also discussed his wife's vision for dealing with global warming, which would create engineering and technology jobs for college graduates and employment for blue-collar workers.

"If you want us to go forward together and you want to save the planet, vote for Hillary," he said.

Bill Clinton also stressed his wife's experience, talking about her work with Republicans in the Senate to provide better equipment for troops in Iraq and improve health care for children.

"The most important reason to vote for her is that she's got the best chance to implement those plans in a way that makes positive changes in your lives," he said.

Clinton never once mentioned Obama in his speech, which ended on a positive note.

"You don't have to think anything bad about anybody running for president — Republican or Democrat — this is about picking the best president," he said.

His tone registered with attendees, who said they were disappointed in his negative campaigning for Hillary Clinton in South Carolina.

Judith Formes, 69, of Albuquerque said she will vote for Hillary Clinton during the caucus — one of 22 Democratic presidential contests being held nationwide Tuesday.

"She's a thinking person's candidate," Formes said, adding she appreciated the positive tone of Clinton's speech.

"He was talking about all of us together, and that's how it should have been in the beginning," she said.

If Hillary Clinton is the first woman elected president, Formes said, "I can go to my grave in peace."

One topic Bill Clinton didn't touch on was immigration reform, which was high on Kennedy's list of Obama's work experience in the Senate.

He said Obama would make universal health coverage his first priority if elected and would work to end the war in Iraq.

"We can elect a Democratic president that can actually end the war in Iraq and his name is Barack Obama," Kennedy said.

Kennedy wrapped up his speech in Spanish, "Un voto por Obama es un voto para la gente" — a vote for Obama is a vote for the people.

He mentioned Obama's opponent only once in his speech. "I'm not against any of the other candidates," he said. "If Hillary Clinton is successful, we will support her."

Agnes Moore, 82, who lives in Albuquerque but is originally from Mississippi, said she supports Obama's positions on health care and education. "In the past, my relatives would have dropped dead to know I was voting for a black man," she said. "Of course, now they've changed their opinions, too."

President Clinton held a fundraiser with about 100 people at a home near Santa Fe, said Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who has endorsed Hillary Clinton.

From New Mexico, Bill Clinton headed to Tempe, Ariz., for a Thursday night rally at Arizona State University.