CONCORD, N.H. -- Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that New Hampshire deserves to hold its primary whenever it chooses, but the Democratic front-runner wouldn't say whether she agrees with allowing another state to vote first.

In June, former President Bill Clinton said both he and his wife opposed a plan to allow Nevada to hold its presidential caucus after Iowa and before the New Hampshire primary. Asked whether she still holds that view, Clinton, who makes her first campaign trip to New Hampshire this weekend, didn't answer directly.

"I'm going to compete in the New Hampshire primary whenever New Hampshire holds its primary and I will tell that to anyone anywhere in the country, because I value the New Hampshire experience and I'm excited about being part of it on my own," she said in a phone interview with The Associated Press. "I believe New Hampshire deserves to be able to put its primary wherever it chooses and I will be there to compete whenever it happens."

It's been 10 years since Clinton visited the state that played such a key role in launching her husband's 1992 campaign. After starting in the back of the pack, Bill Clinton turned his second-place finish in New Hampshire that year into a victory, dubbing himself the "Comeback Kid."

Clinton said she looks forward to reintroducing herself to New Hampshire, which has changed significantly, both economically and politically, since her last visit. Though the Clintons have many friends in the state, many new faces were part of the Democratic sweep of the state's Legislature and Congressional delegation in November.

"I think it's the best of both worlds: a lot of nostalgia and fond memories, but also excitement about what the future holds," she said.

Clinton, who postponed her trip a week due to the death of her husband's stepfather, will spend the weekend holding town hall-style forums and attending smaller gatherings of voters. Though one of her rivals, former Sen. John Edwards, released the details of his $120 billion universal health care plan earlier this week, Clinton said she was in no rush to announce her own plan.

"The president can propose, but the Congress has to dispose, and if we don't have a consensus in the country that our present system is no longer adequate to provide quality affordable coverage to every American and increase the competitiveness of our economy and reduce the burden on individuals, then we can't get any plan sent forward," she said.

There are different ways to achieve the goals of universal coverage, higher quality and lower costs, she said, "But the first step is getting a majority of our citizens convinced it has to be done," she said.

Clinton said her unsuccessful health care reform effort of 1993 makes her "the most effective messenger" on the issue today.

"I know there's a big difference between setting a goal and being able to get all the players at the table to agree to it and get it enacted," she said. "I think I know what not to do as well as having picked up some very important experience in the last 14 years about how to proceed."

(Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)