Clinton opens convention as Kerry 'foot soldier'

4.00pm

BOSTON - Former President Bill Clinton promised on Monday to be a "foot soldier" in John Kerry's fight for the White House as a unified and determined Democratic Party opened its national convention with a ringing call to battle in November.

Clinton, who wrapped up the convention's opening night, joined an all-star cast of party veterans and leaders who lavished praise on Kerry and questioned President Bush's leadership and credibility.

"Tonight I speak as a citizen, eager to join you here in Boston as a foot soldier in the fight for our future," Clinton said in prepared excerpts of his speech. He called Kerry "a good man, a great senator, a visionary leader."

Former President Jimmy Carter and former Vice President Al Gore condemned Bush's handling of Iraq and the economy and accused him of destroying US credibility around the world.

"Truth is the foundation of our global leadership, but our credibility has been shattered and we are left increasingly isolated and vulnerable in a hostile world," Carter said. "Without truth, without trust, America cannot flourish."

Gore, who lost the 2000 election to Bush after a bitter recount dispute in Florida that was settled by the Supreme Court, said that battle should inspire Democrats working to put Kerry in the White House in November.

"To those of you who felt disappointed or angry with the outcome in 2000, I want you to remember all of those feelings," Gore said. "But then I want you to do what I have done -- focus them fully and completely on putting John Kerry and John Edwards in the White House."

Clinton was introduced by his wife, New York senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, who in her prepared text called Kerry "a serious man for a serious job."

Clinton was to cap a night full of speeches highlighting Kerry's proposals to create jobs, provide affordable health care and rebuild foreign alliances as Democrats began the process of introducing Kerry to undecided voters.

Democrats showcased the life and military history of the decorated Vietnam War veteran, hoping to burnish his credentials as a decisive leader and soften the image of the sometimes wooden campaigner.

Carter, also a former naval officer, drew a pointed contrast between Kerry and Bush's service in the National Guard, and made an allusion to questions about whether he showed up to serve his full term.

"Today our party is led by another former naval officer -- one who volunteered for military service," Carter said. "He showed up when assigned to duty, and he served with honour and distinction."

Speakers said Bush had proven he could not lead the economy back to prosperity or protect Americans from threats around the world. Gore said Bush had betrayed his promise to practice a compassionate conservatism.

"I sincerely ask those watching at home tonight who supported President Bush four years ago, did you really get what you expected from the candidate you voted for?" asked Gore, who toned down his recent red-meat rhetoric like calling Bush a "moral coward."

"Has the promise of compassionate conservatism been fulfilled? Or do those words ring hollow now?" Gore asked.

Kerry was in Cape Canaveral, Florida, home of the Kennedy Space Center, on a six-day cross-country campaign swing that will take him to Boston on Wednesday. He called it "my journey of a lifetime."

"I'm here today, on the first day of the Democratic convention, because there's no better place to launch something than Cape Canaveral," the four-term Massachusetts senator said.

Convention planners had promised a positive four-day gathering that would focus more on Kerry than on attacks against Bush. But while the rhetoric was cooler and Bush was not always mentioned by name, many Democrats could not restrain themselves.

Bush's decision to launch a war in Iraq came in for a special roasting. Carter said the United States "cannot lead if our leaders mislead" and said Bush's agenda had polarised the country.

"You can't be a war president one day and claim to be a peace president the next, depending on the latest political polls," Carter said.

Driven by an intense anti-Bush fervor, the usually fractious party has put aside its differences to rally around Kerry, who is tied with Bush or leading slightly in most polls. Democrats say they are in a stronger position than any presidential challenger since Republican Ronald Reagan in 1980.

- REUTERS