The thrill of Bill

The thousands of spectators who crowded the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Monday were there to root for Sen. John Kerry, but they clearly clamored for another Democrat: former President Bill Clinton.

Clinton joined Kerry at a lunchtime rally, making his first appearance on the campaign trail since undergoing heart surgery in early September.

The star-studded event drew international attention, and Clinton threw the crowd into a frenzy just by walking onstage to strains of Fleetwood Mac’s Don’t Stop Thinking About Tomorrow — his own former campaign anthem — and displaying his trademark charm.

Even the Democrats on the crowded stage — including Mayor John Street, Gov. Ed Rendell, Sen. Vince Fumo, Congressman Bob Brady and District Attorney Lynne Abraham — were glowing like kids on Christmas morning.

"If this isn’t good for my heart, I don’t know what is," he told the screaming crowd.

Though he predictably inspired smiles with recollections of his eight years in office, Clinton was in town to help tip Pennsylvania and the other swing states that are critical to Tuesday’s election in Kerry’s favor.

He acknowledged early on that no matter how popular, there’s only so much one person can do to help win a presidential election.

"I know that no one’s presence can change a single vote," he said, "but I hope my reasons can affect a few votes."

Clinton spent the next 10 minutes articulating Kerry’s plans — sometimes better than Kerry himself did — and commended the candidate for holding his own in a campaign that many expected to be an easy victory for President Bush.

"One of Clinton’s laws of politics is this: If you have one candidate who is trying to scare you, and another who is speaking to your hopes, you better vote for the one who speaks to your hopes," Clinton said, summing up his case for Kerry.

"Oh, I just love him," cried Linda Munnelly, a Doylestown resident who stood behind a barricade a few blocks away from the main stage at 16th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

When Kerry took the mic, he turned his attention first to the sea of people that extended almost back to City Hall.

"You guys look so beautiful all the way back there," he said, beaming.

Kerry then ripped into Bush, claiming that the country and troops in Iraq were less safe because "this president has failed to do the basics."

He referred to Iraq frequently, citing a report that 380 tons of explosive materials that were left unprotected at the beginning of the war are now missing as further proof of Bush’s ineptness.

Kerry also ran through his healthcare, tax and economic platforms with more zest than usual — a result, perhaps, of sharing the stage with the more commanding Clinton.

"Every time I talked about people’s dreams and this country’s possibilities, the president responded, ‘It’s hard work,’" Kerry said, referring to the three presidential debates. "I am ready, willing and impatient to relieve the president of that hard work."

As confetti blanketed the crowd and "Philly for Kerry" placards waved through the air, some of the spectators reflected on the Kerry-Clinton performance.

"I think Kerry showed he’s a great speaker," said Jack Nolte of West Chester. "You learn so much more from seeing and hearing him in person than you do from sound bites on TV."

Jeanette Warsavage, a Yardley resident, said she was just happy to be a part of the day.

"Seeing Kerry in person is a lot different than reading about him in the newspapers," she said. "But boy, was it a thrill to see Bill Clinton."