Topeka ? Former President Bill Clinton on Friday told Kansas Democrats that they had changed the political landscape by persuading moderate Republicans to switch parties.

“The whole country is looking at you,” Clinton said to 1,500 people at the state Democrats’ annual Washington Days fundraiser. “You did a great thing by broadening your base and bringing in people who were active members of the Republican Party.”

In last year’s election, former Republican Paul Morrison switched to the Democratic Party and defeated Attorney General Phill Kline, a Republican, and former Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mark Parkinson switched to the Democratic Party to become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ lieutenant governor running mate.

To be successful, Clinton urged Democrats to work on fixing problems instead of getting in partisan political fights. He said Republicans suffered major defeats in 2006 because “they put ideology over evidence.”

Iran, health care and energy

Earlier, Clinton spoke at the Landon Lecture at Kansas State University.

In a question and answer period after the lecture, Clinton cautioned against starting a war with Iran over its nuclear program, saying that economic sanctions are more effective.

The Bush administration hasn’t ruled out military action, but Clinton said most people in Iran want a moderate government.

But in both his lecture and Washington Days talk, Clinton focused on the economy, energy and health care. He steered clear of talking about his wife, U.S. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, and her bid for the Democratic nomination for president.

And he challenged Kansans to take the lead in developing alternative fuels and reforming the health care system.

Reducing greenhouse gases and dependence on foreign oil and lowering health care costs while trying to provide coverage to everyone would be a boon to the economy, he said.

“This is the kind of practical stuff made for people like you. There’s a lot of jobs here,” Clinton said.

As he walked around a small stage in the center of a hotel ballroom, Clinton quipped, “I feel like I’m in some San Francisco coffee shop in the ’60s.”

While he was cheered enthusiastically at both speeches, the Kansas Republican Party criticized Clinton, who held office from 1993 to 2001.

Christian Morgan, interim executive director of the state GOP, said Clinton’s visit served “to remind all Republicans why we love Slick Willy.”

Morgan recited numerous criticisms of Clinton, including his impeachment by the U.S. House in 1998.

“So finally, thank you, Kathleen Sebelius, for bringing Bill Clinton to Kansas and reminding all Kansans of your true values and the real values of the Democratic Party,” he said.

He urged Republicans to contribute online to “beat the Sebelius/Morrison/Clinton machine in 2008!”

Lawrence Democrats enjoyed speech

But Democrats greeted Clinton warmly.

State Rep. Tom Holland, D-Baldwin City, said Clinton’s speech was inspiring, especially his comments about the need for Democrats to reach for solutions instead of getting mired in political fights with Republicans.

“Those are successful keys for all public servants to make a difference,” Holland said.

Sen. Marci Francisco, D-Lawrence, said Clinton “was really challenging us to deliver.”

Even Sen. Roger Reitz, a Republican from Manhattan, attended the fundraiser as a guest of Francisco. “Mr. Clinton is nothing if he is not incredibly intelligent. The amazing thing is how he brings a point home,” Reitz said.

State Rep. Paul Davis, D-Lawrence, said he agreed with Clinton’s assessment of the political landscape.

“The results of the last election showed a frustration with the state of American politics, and voters were looking for political leaders and parties working on real solutions,” Davis said.

State Rep. Barbara Ballard, D-Lawrence, helped auction off Clinton’s tie, a tradition of Washington Days. The tie was bought for $26,000 by Phil Ruffin, the owner of Wichita Greyhound Park.

Ballard said Clinton’s speech was extraordinary in describing in simple terms the need for health care reform and renewable energy sources.

Last visit was at KU

The last time Clinton was in Kansas was May 21, 2004, when he addressed a crowd of about 12,000 at Kansas University’s Allen Fieldhouse as the inaugural speaker in the Dole Institute of Politics’ Dole Lecture series.

During his 44-minute talk then, Clinton joked that the crowd represented 90 percent of his supporters in traditionally Republican Kansas.

Last year, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., now running for president, wowed the party faithful at Washington Days with a fiery speech that criticized the Bush administration.

That was the precursor to a banner year for Kansas Democrats.

Sebelius and U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore, who represents the 3rd Congressional District, each won re-election, while Morrison unseated Kline for attorney general, and Nancy Boyda defeated five-term incumbent Jim Ryun, a Republican from Lawrence, for the 2nd Congressional District.

Clinton noted Boyda couldn’t attend Washington Days because she was visiting Iraq. He said he was glad to hear Boyda was talking to the troops to figure out “what we should do to get them home as quickly as possible.”