Posted on Mon, Apr. 07, 2008

Hillary Clinton is more qualified than any other candidate to represent Puerto Ricans, said former President Bill Clinton, fighting for the popular vote Monday at a time when his wife is trailing Barack Obama in delegates.

''On the mainland, she represents more Puerto Ricans than anyone who has run for president in a very long time,'' the former president said, referring to Hillary Clinton's role as a New York senator.

''If you vote for her and give her a good margin, she will always honor your support,'' Bill Clinton told a crowd of several hundred people at a university campus in the north-coast city of Barceloneta.

The close race for the Democratic nomination between Sen. Hillary Clinton and Obama, a senator from Illinois, has brought new importance to a territory that traditionally has little say over U.S. national affairs.

The local Democratic Party changed what used to be a caucus to a primary to encourage more voters to participate.

Puerto Rico, which has 63 delegate votes, will hold one of the last primaries -- on June 1 -- followed only by Montana and South Dakota.

Obama currently leads in the delegate count, 1,635-1,501, according to The Associated Press. Because of the way Democrats apportion delegates, Clinton is not likely to catch Obama even if she has a strong showing in the remaining 10 contests.

But some analysts say Clinton's New York ties could strengthen her support here and reduce Obama's lead in the overall popular vote -- possibly improving her case at the Democratic National Convention in August. Puerto Ricans cannot vote in the general presidential election.

Bill Clinton arrived Sunday night for a two-day visit along with two Hispanic lawmakers, New York Rep. Nydia Velazquez and New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez. He planned appearances later Monday at a children's hospital outside the capital, San Juan, and at a restaurant on the southern coast.