After accepting the nomination as Democratic candidate for president, Senator John Kerry will tonight give the most important speech of his career, designed to show a divided nation he has the experience to be war-time America's next commander-in-chief, writes Conor O'Clery in Boston.
Delegates to the Democratic Party National Convention gathered in Boston last night for a state-by-state roll call to confirm his nomination, followed by an address by vice president nominee John Edwards.
Twelve retired generals and admirals endorsed Mr Kerry yesterday as the candidate focused on his background as a decorated Vietnam War veteran to counter Republican charges that he is weak on defence.
The Massachusetts senator arrived in his home town yesterday after a six-day tour of battleground states and, surrounded by crewmates from his Vietnam War patrol boat, crossed Boston Harbour from the airport on a water taxi.
"I just want to say Bruce Springsteen had it right. No retreat. No surrender," he told supporters at Charlestown Navy Yard near the convention site. He felt great, "ready to go, pumped" and he promised his prime-time speech would be a surprise.
Mr Kerry's appearance at the convention today comes as the climax to a four-day Democratic festival that has emphasised national unity and security rather than divisive cultural issues such as abortion.
"John Kerry offers hope, not fear," said Senator Edward Kennedy, to cheers from some 5,000 delegates and alternatives, whereas Republicans "divide and try to conquer". Recalling that Franklin Roosevelt had inspired America by saying: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself," Mr Kennedy said: "Today we say the only thing we have to fear is four more years of George Bush."
Mr Kerry is expected to emphasise a recurring theme of the convention, that the Bush administration has alienated longtime allies and instead of making America more secure has made it less so.
Addressing the convention on Tuesday night, his wife, Ms Teresa Heinz Kerry, added to the picture of Mr Kerry as war hero, saying "he earned his medals the old-fashioned way, by putting his life on the line".
Hundreds of police and soldiers stepped up already overwhelming security in Boston as Mr Kerry's boat docked under naval guard and helicopters patrolled overhead.
A new Washington Post-ABC poll showed over half of voters know little about his positions on the issues and more than 40 per cent rated him as "too liberal".
However, 41 per cent believed Mr Kerry cared more about them, compared to 27 per cent for President Bush. The Democratic candidate, running slightly ahead of Mr Bush in recent polls, hopes for a boost from the convention that will last through to the election on November 2nd.