DENVER (AFP) - Former US president Bill Clinton has entrusted his presidential legacy to the keeping of Barack Obama, finally admitting the Democratic nominee into his band of believers "in a place called Hope." After wife Hillary's stinging Democratic primary defeat left him feuding with chunks of his own party, Clinton's speech at the Democratic National Convention Wednesday was about more than endorsing the new nominee. Clinton was also coming home to his party, which long before Obama came along, feted him as its darling, and always took him back despite a string of scandals before, during and after his presidency. "I love this, and I thank you, but we have important work to do tonight," Clinton said, as thousands of supporters chanted "Bill, Bill, Bill" The music bracketing Clinton's speech encapsulated his theme. As he strode onto the stage, waving, the band played Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop (thinking about tomorrow)," his 1992 campaign theme. When he was done, the band struck up a version of U2's "Beautiful Day" - Obama's campaign anthem. In between, Clinton weaved a path between his own political creed, of centrist "feel your pain" economics which he took from humble beginnings in Hope, Arkansas to the White House and Obama's hope-fuelled platform. As there often is with Clinton, there seemed a whiff of narcissism about his speech - his praise of Obama's "intelligence and curiosity" also seemed to refer to his own presidential mettle. In a striking image, Clinton was introduced by Kendrick Meek, a rising star African American leader and congressman from Florida: Hillary Clinton looked on, from an arena box, alongside her most prominent African American supporter congressman Charles Rangel. Meanwhile, Democratic vice-presidential pick Joseph Biden declared war on the Republicans, warning America did not need a "good soldier" but a wise leader to guide it through troubled times. In a fierce opening salvo as Biden joined Barack Obama in the battle for the White House, the Delaware senator echoed a chorus of voices from the convention floor denouncing the "catastrophic foreign policy" of the Republicans. Biden accused Republican White House hopeful John McCain and the administration of President George W Bush of failed judgement and neglect, saying it was time to end the war in Iraq. Drawing on his 36 years in Senate and his vast foreign policy experience, he savaged the Republican Party accusing it of failing to protect the American people in what he called "extraordinary times." "The Bush-McCain foreign policy has dug us into a very deep hole, with very few friends to help us climb out. For the last seven years this administration has failed to face the biggest forces shaping this century," he said. The Bush administration had failed to address issues such as "the emergence of Russia, China and India as great powers, the spread of lethal weapons," as well as climate change "and the resurgence of fundamentalism in Afghanistan and Pakistan, the real central front against terrorism." It was the knockout punch against the Republicans in a day of attacks by senior Democratic figures as they sought to disavow McCain's contention that Obama is not ready to lead the world's superpower. "We cannot afford four more years like the past eight years," said former secretary of state Madeleine Albright. "Policies that embolden our enemies, undermine our economy and place an unfair burden on the heroes of our armed forces. John McCain asks that we trust Republicans to safeguard our national security. To which we can only reply: why would we?" And former presidential candidate John Kerry, who was defeated in the 2004 election by Bush, was unequivocal in his denunciation of the Republican leadership. "So who can we trust to keep America safe? The McCain-Bush Republicans have been wrong again and again and again." Former US ambassador to the UN and foreign policy trouble shooter, Bill Richardson said: "With America fighting two wars, the 9/11 terrorists still at large, Iran pursuing nuclear weapons, and Russia in Georgia, America needs a president who gets it right first time." Biden showed off all his wit and rhetorical skills Wednesday raising the roof with his speech, before Obama joined him on the stage for a show-stopping finish.