BOSTON – While Democrats will rest their hopes on the party’s presumptive nominee, Sen. John Kerry of Massachusetts, come November, on Monday they heeded advice from some voices from their past.

Former President Clinton, despite scandal during his final years in office, energized the thousands of people who packed the FleetCenter for Monday’s opening of the Democratic National Convention.

“I come to you as a citizen, as a foot soldier in the fight for the future,” Clinton told the crowd, which stood and cheered for several minutes during his introduction by his – judging by the applause – equally popular wife, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York.

The tenor of the 42nd president’s speech was in keeping with Kerry’s wishes for a civil address, absent of personal attacks, delegates noted. Clinton did reserve some ire for the Bush administration and the Republican-controlled Congress.

“The Republicans believe America should be run for the right people, their people,” Clinton said. “They need a divided America, but we don’t.”

Maine delegate Jim Martin of Orono praised Clinton’s supporting role in the Kerry campaign, and discounted media reports that the former president would steal the limelight from the comparatively parochial Kerry.

“I think that he demonstrated under Democratic leadership what we can accomplish in this country,” Martin said of Clinton. “He is a major asset.”

Clinton ended the prime-time speaking lineup on Monday, which began with his partner of eight years, former Vice President Al Gore.

Gore at times made light of his stinging defeat by George W. Bush, but told delegates he instead was going to focus on the future – with the lessons from 2000 in mind.

“The first lesson … is that every vote counts,” Gore said. “In a democracy, every vote has power, and never forget that power is yours … and let’s make sure this time that every vote is counted.”

Although he won the popular vote, Gore lost the election by way of a Supreme Court ruling that awarded Bush Florida’s Electoral College votes. Another such result in 2004 would mean dire consequences for the country, he warned.

“Let’s make sure the Supreme Court does not pick the next president, and that this president does not pick the next Supreme Court,” Gore said to wild applause.

Among those cheering was Maine delegate Bruce King of Bradley.

“I’m glad he’s going to focus on putting John Kerry in the White House,” King said from the delegation’s prime seating assignment on the convention floor, where they were sandwiched between the pivotal swing states of New Mexico and Florida.

Gore also attempted to reach out to Republicans and those who, in 2000, supported then Green Party candidate Ralph Nader, whom Democrats almost universally blame for costing Gore the White House.

“America faces deep challenges. They are not Democratic challenges or Republican challenges,” Gore said. “They are American challenges that we must all overcome together as one people, one nation.”

Former President Carter followed Gore in the lineup, warning delegates that the extremism of the Bush administration – including its “strange strategy of pre-emptive war” – has isolated the country.

“Truth is the foundation of global leadership,” Carter said, a reference to what Democrats call the Bush administration’s questionable reasoning for war with Iraq. “Our credibility has been shattered and without trust America cannot flourish.”

“We cannot lead if our leaders mislead,” Carter later said.

But it was Clinton’s 15-minute speech that solidified his continued role in the Kerry campaign, those in attendance said, removing doubt that Kerry, like Gore, would try to distance himself from the popular, but politically damaged, former president.

Instead, at a campaign stop in Florida Monday, Kerry praised Clinton for balancing the government’s budget, reducing its debt and creating 23 million new jobs. “I also want to create better jobs,” Kerry said.

Even before Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe called the convention to order Monday afternoon, protesters outside the FleetCenter used a bullhorn to rail against restrictions that confined them to a fenced-in area about a block away from the event.

“This is insane! We’re in a cage!” said one anti-Kerry protester surrounded by two men dressed in giant green and orange flip-flops, a not-so-subtle allusion to the Republican line that Kerry has changed his position on several issues – particularly the war – since hitting the campaign trail.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.