MS Hillary Rodham Clinton strongly defended her husband's policies at the Democratic convention as the train carrying the President neared Chicago. He will be acclaimed there tomorrow night.
Mr Clinton spoke to the delegates gathered in Chicago by satellite and announced new education measures.
The keynote address was given by the Democratic Governor of Indiana, Mr Evan Bayh, who is being tipped as a future presidential candidate. He defended the administration's economic policies and questioned the 15 per cent tax cut which is the centrepiece of the Republican campaign.
Mrs Clinton addressed her favourite themes of children, women and families before the thousands of enthusiastic delegates who crowded the convention centre to hear her in her home city.
It was a night for women's themes as Tipper Gore, wife of Vice-President Al Gore, also addressed the convention.
Mrs Clinton was in sparkling form as she toured women's functions around the city and spoke out strongly on feminist issues.
Inevitably there were comparisons between Mrs Clinton and the performance at the Republican convention in San Diego two weeks ago of Mrs Elizabeth Dole, who descended into the audience with a hand microphone. Mrs Clinton preferred to stay at the podium for her 15-minute speech.
It will be interesting to see if Mrs Clinton's performance will improve her standing in the polls where the constant Whitewater revelations have had a negative effect. A recent poll after the Republican convention showed the public sharply divided, with 47 per cent taking a favourable view of her and 48 per cent disapproving.
Mrs Dole, by contrast, had a 58 per cent favourable rating; only 18 per cent disapproved.
Criticism of President Clinton's action in signing the controversial welfare reform Bill was heard last night from the Rev Jesse Jackson, but not in too divisive a way. Mrs Clinton, as well as the President himself, and his aides are now all on the record as saying the Bill's more objectionably features affecting legal immigrants and children will be corrected in a second term.
The opening of the convention was marked by emotional appearances by the paralysed film actor Christopher Reeve.