Clinton invigorates Kerry campaign

Former US president Bill Clinton waves after speaking to the Democratic National Convention on Monday at the Fleet Center in Boston, Massachusetts. PHOTO: AFP

John Kerry will "rally the world to our side," the former president said as the party turned to an aging liberal warrior and Kerry's outspoken wife to define the Massachusetts senator.

Day Two of the Democratic National Convention focuses on what Kerry's campaign describes as his lifetime of service, from a volunteer combat tour in Vietnam to more than two decades in political office.

The Navy veteran campaigned in Florida on Monday and was appearing in the Navy town of Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday, where he was calling for the Sept. 11 commission to continue working past its scheduled end date of Aug. 26 to ensure recommended reforms are put in place.

President Bush may act within days on some of the commission's recommendations, a spokeswoman said, as the question of which candidate can best protect America continued to dominate the fight for the presidency.

In the absence of Kerry, who was to arrive Wednesday, Democrats were hearing from Massachusetts Sen. Edward Kennedy, the liberal icon whom Republicans love to link with Kerry; and the candidate's wife, Teresa Heinz Kerry, who drew attention this week by telling a reporter to "shove it."

Neither seemed likely to match the Clintons' overwhelming crowd appeal.

Introducing her husband Monday night as "the last great Democratic president," Mrs. Clinton revved up the packed convention hall by saying Kerry "will lead the world, not alienate it."

When the former president took the stage, delegates jumped up, screamed, applauded and waved placards. Even as he clearly enjoyed it, Clinton quickly turned the focus to insisting that Kerry would be a good commander in chief.

"During the Vietnam War, many young men, including the current president, the vice president and me, could have gone to Vietnam and didn't. John Kerry came from a privileged background. He could have avoided going too, but instead, he said: Send me," Clinton said.

In keeping with the Democratic convention strategy of avoiding strong Bush-bashing, Clinton jabbed the Republicans sharply on the economy, tax cuts and corporate windfalls, while taking more subtle digs at the president himself.

Kerry has "a willingness to hear other views, even those who disagree with him," Clinton said. "John Kerry will make choices that reflect both conviction and common sense."