Wife rallies for 'fighter' Kerry

Mrs Kerry delivered a very personal message

Teresa Heinz Kerry - who is hoping to become First Lady after US elections in November - has urged Democratic delegates to rally behind her husband.

She said he was a leader who could "return America to its moral bearings".

Her impassioned plea came on day two of the four-day convention in Boston. She was cheered when she told delegates she had the right to be opinionated.

Other speakers who paid glowing tribute to the presidential hopeful included Howard Dean, previously a rival.

The crowd was galvanised by a rousing speech from youthful Senate contender Barack Obama, whom Democrats hope will capture the black vote.

"There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America," Mr Obama said, in a speech highlighting his multi-ethnic origins.

The star of the show on Wednesday evening will be John Edwards, Mr Kerry's running mate.

Mr Obama has been described as future presidential material

But despite an eloquent endorsement of Mr Kerry from former President Bill Clinton on Monday, the latest poll suggested a decline in voter support for the White House challenger.

Only 46% backed him against 48% for Mr Bush, said the Washington Post/ABC poll. Respondents said they did not know enough about Mr Kerry's policies.

The Democrat hopeful will address the convention on Thursday, its final day.

'Show hope not fear'

Teresa Heinz Kerry told the delegates that she was "speaking from the heart".

He earned his medals the old-fashioned way by putting his life on the line for his country Teresa Heinz Kerry Profile: Teresa Heinz Kerry

"I have a very personal feeling about how special America is, and I know how precious freedom is. It is a sacred gift, sanctified by those who have lived it and by those who have died defending it," she said.

"John believes we can, and we must, lead in the world as America, unique among nations, always should - by showing the face, not of our fears, but of our hopes."

HAVE YOUR SAY I thought her speech was awesome Jessica Cogswell, Connecticut, USA Send us your comments

"John is a fighter. He earned his medals the old-fashioned way by putting his life on the line for his country and no-one will defend this nation more vigorously," she said to loud cheers from the audience.

Mrs Kerry's speech was part of an attempt to improve the image of her husband.

'Opinionated'

Mrs Kerry's fans - and there are many of them - say she can be a real benefit to the Kerry campaign, the BBC's Justin Webb in Boston says.

How the US electorate views the candidates and issues according to the latest opinion polls

In graphics

But she is not the easiest person to sell to middle America, or even to many less committed Democrats, our correspondent says.

He adds that Mrs Kerry was a Republican until two years ago, she is fabulously wealthy and she has a reputation for holding unconventional opinions.

"My right to speak my mind, to have a voice - to be what some have called opinionated - is a right I deeply and profoundly cherish," she told the convention.

Earlier this week, Mrs Kerry got into an argument with a journalist who had annoyed her and remained unrepentant.

She has caused further embarrassment with an interview conducted in the 1970s, unearthed by her enemies, in which she said she did not trust Edward Kennedy, now her husband's chief backer, our correspondent says.

In the interview she said she thought the Democrats were "putrid".

Stem cell research

The son of the former President and Republican icon, Ronald Reagan, gave a moving speech to the convention.

The political independent focused on the role of stem cell research in finding cures for diseases like Alzheimer's.

Stem cell guide:
What are stem cells and what might they be used for?

At-a-glance

The ex-president died last month, a decade after being diagnosed with the disease.

In May this year, his wife, Nancy Reagan, publicly urged President Bush to reverse his stem cell policy.

The Bush administration has limited public funding of this type of research because of ethical reservations about using stem cells from human embryos.

Mr Reagan, 46, is an outspoken critic of the Bush administration.

He has said he will not campaign for John Kerry, but will vote for him "as a way to defeat Bush".