The Clintons Said That Barack Is Ready To Be President

The party avoided a potentially embarrassing rift when Hillary Clinton went directly to the convention floor to move for a suspension of the roll call. She was met by thunderous cheers.

The cheers continued as the former president was welcomed by such an outpouring of affection and applause from delegates that it delayed his address for several minutes.

Bill Clinton's opening words left no doubt as to his singular mission: "I am honored to be here tonight to support Barack Obama," he said, as the hall erupted in deafening ovation, a sea of waving American flags and chants of "Bill! Bill!"

"Republicans said I was too young and too inexperienced to be commander in chief," the two-term president said. "Sound familiar? It didn't work in 1992, because we were on the right side of history. And it won't work in 2008 - because Barack Obama is on the right side of history."

Then Biden revved it up another notch.

"John thinks that during the Bush years we've made economic progress. I think it's been abysmal," he said.

"Whose judgment should we trust? Should we trust John McCain's judgment, when he said only three years ago, 'Afghanistan, we don't read about it anymore because it's succeeded?'

"Or should we trust Barack Obama, who more than a year ago called for sending two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan?"

Although relations between Bill Clinton and Obama have been considered chilly, Clinton made clear he was ready to extend his hand - and his heart - to Obama's cause.

"Hillary told us in no uncertain terms that she'll do everything she can to elect Barack Obama" he said. "That makes two of us."

Marshalling energy and emotion that has been a hallmark of his political brand, he intended to make the case that Obama has the experience and seasoning to lead the nation.

"Everything I learned in my eight years as president and in the work I have done since, in America and across the globe, has convinced me that Barack Obama is the man for this job."