Bill Clinton campaigns in Iowa, brushes off Trump criticism

Former President Bill Clinton took a trip down memory lane while campaigning for his wife, Hillary Clinton, in Iowa, Thursday, warmly reminiscing about his own rallies in the state during the 1990s and the economic boom that coincided with his two terms in the White House.

But Clinton resisted being pulled backed into the scandals that also defined his political past. He brushed aside a question about Republican front-runner Donald Trump's recent criticism of his impeachment by the House and decades-old sex scandals, saying there will be "plenty of time" to discuss those matters if Trump becomes president.

"I don't want to be involved in their politics or do anything except trying to help Hillary," Clinton said as he wrapped up a stop at a market in Cedar Rapids, where he spent an hour shaking hands, taking selfies and sampling the local fare, including a green fruit and vegetable smoothie.

Trump has been raising concerns about the former president's impeachment and decades-old sex scandals, seeking to take some of the shine of Clinton's highly-anticipated return to the campaign trail.

Until now, Clinton has largely stayed out of the spotlight as his wife makes a second bid for the Democratic nomination. But he's expected to be a more visible presence in the lead-up to the Feb. 1 Iowa caucus and Feb. 9 primary in New Hampshire.

Speaking to 500 people packed into a ballroom in Cedar Rapids, Clinton touted his wife's experience and qualifications for president, calling her "the best change-maker I ever saw."

"She will try to knit the country back together," Clinton said.

Clinton also sharply criticized congressional Republicans for their latest attempt to repeal President Barack Obama's signature health care law, particularly without having any ideas for what they would replace it with.

"Do we need to do some work on it? Yeah," he said. "The last thing in the world we need to do is scrap it."

The former president was also headlining an event later Thursday in Dubuque, Iowa.

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