GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Former President Bill Clinton took supporters here on a stroll down "fact lane" Friday night, passionately making the case that economy is well on its way to recovery.

"People don't feel it yet. I get that. The deficit was going down three years in a row before a majority of the American people would say 'Ya, it's going down.'  People didn't feel it," Clinton told a crowd of more than 2,000 people. "And the damage was much deeper this time around.  I'm telling you, we are coming out of this, we are moving in the right direction. If you stay with this policy and you stay with this president and you elect Tammy Baldwin, you will feel it."

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The comments come one day after GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney's campaign jumped on Clinton's remark that the economy is "not fixed."

At a rally late Thursday, Republican vice presidential nominee Paul Ryan said he agreed with the former president, and used it as an attack against the current administration's economic record.

But in remarks that lasted nearly one hour, Clinton was careful to say the economy is not "hunky dory" but stressed that the nation's economy was on the mend.

In recent weeks, Clinton has been one of President Barack Obama's most active surrogates, headlining rallies in nearly all the key battleground states. His appearance here at the University of Wisconsin Green Bay was also in support of Democratic senate candidate, Rep. Tammy Baldwin. The high profile race in the Badger State has gotten plenty of interest from outside groups who have poured millions into advertising in the state, to which Clinton warned supporters to "follow the money."

The 42nd president was particularly critical of the Super PAC Crossroads, run by Karl Rove, a former aide to President George W. Bush. "You all remember Karl Rove, don't you? Now he was part of a great economic record," Clinton said to laughter. "He's out there plugging for Gov. Romney and plugging for Tommy Thompson, and if you liked the economics of the previous 8 years, you will just love what they do. You gotta follow the money sometimes, folks."

Clinton also used his trip here to reflect on some of the pleasant memories from his own time in office, even briefly addressing his legacy. "When you have more yesterdays than tomorrows, there are only 3 things that matter: Are people better off than when you quit than when you started? Do children have a brighter future and are things coming together or being torn apart?" he said.

"The rest of it is all background music."

 

Updated at 8:35 a.m. ET: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton responded to Vladimir Putin's accusations that the U.S. was stirring up protests against his 12-year rule by saying Thursday she had expressed "well-founded" concerns about the conduct of Russia's parliamentary elections.

Earlier, Putin said Clinton had encouraged Kremlin opponents by criticizing the vote. Clinton suggested on Tuesday that the vote was not free or fair.

Speaking in a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Clinton also said that U.S.-Russian disagreement over the Western alliance's plans for a missile defense system in Europe did not justify Russia taking military counter-measures.

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Putin alleged that the United States was spurring protests over the vote by voicing serious concern about their conduct. He said hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign funds had been used to influence the election.

Putin's remarks echoed the tough anti-Western rhetoric he employed in his 2000-2008 presidency to suggest Western nations were funding Kremlin foes to try to weaken Russia and prevent its resurgence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.

Meanwhile, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told reporters Thursday that he did not see anything out of the ordinary about the protests as "they are a reflection of democracy."

"If people want to have their say on the elections this is fine," he added. 

Updated at 5:45 a.m. ET: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin warned Thursday that Russian authorities might take an even harder line against protesters who have taken to the streets alleging election-rigging.

"We need to think about strengthening the law and holding more responsible those who carry out the task of a foreign government to influence our internal political process," he said.

Moscow has already put 50,000 police and troops out on the streets, backed by water cannon.

The demonstrations have been some of the biggest and most sustained protests Russia has seen in years, and police have detained hundreds of protesters.

Published at 4:55 a.m. ET: Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States of encouraging protests over Russia's parliamentary election and said hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign funds were used to influence the vote.

• PhotoBlog: Russian opposition leaders

In his first public remarks about daily demonstrations by protesters alleging Sunday's vote was fraudulent and unfair, Putin said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton "gave a signal" to Kremlin opponents.

"She set the tone for some opposition activists, gave them a signal, they heard this signal and started active work," Putin said.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's United Russia party lost a significant share of its seats in Sunday's parliamentary election but will still have a majority. Opponents say even that was achieved by widespread vote fraud.

• Social media helps anti-Putin protests 'snowball'

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has urged Russian authorities to annul the results of Sunday's vote and hold a new one. He says "ignoring public opinion discredits the authorities and destabilizes the situation."

'Mercenary political interests'
Putin said some of the demonstrators who have protested daily over allegations of election fraud were pursuing selfish political aims and that most Russians do not want political upheaval.

"We are all adults here and we understand that some ... of the organizers act in accordance with a well-known scenario and in their own mercenary political interests," he said.

• Moscow official: I helped rig Russian election

The United States has expressed serious concern about the conduct of the Russian election, which Clinton suggested was not free or fair.

Meanwhile, police in Russia's two largest cities arrested scores of demonstrators Wednesday, in a third straight night of protests against the ruling party and alleged election fraud.

• Russia's 'Arab Spring'? Clashes erupt

The demonstrations in Moscow and St. Petersburg appeared to attract fewer protesters than in previous days, roughly 300 in each city, but Russians' willingness to risk jail time and clashes with police indicates significant anger.

Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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