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TAMPA - There was no mistaking the glowing face among the five Democratic daughters, all dressed in skirts and stiletto heels. There was her father's easy smile. Her mother's confident posture.
Chelsea Clinton has needed few introductions since moving into the White House as a shy adolescent nearly 12 years ago. Except an important one.
"This is my first political speech," the 24-year-old said Saturday, making her political debut at a park tucked off Bayshore Boulevard. "I have a couple of experts in the family, and I hope to do them proud."
A small crowd was surprised to hear from the only child of former President Clinton and Hillary Clinton, now the junior senator from New York. Originally, actor Ben Affleck was expected at the Women for Kerry rally planned on 24-hours notice, Hillsborough Democratic Party chairwoman Janee Murphy said.
Late Friday, word came down that Chelsea Clinton and Caroline Kennedy would join Vanessa Kerry, Cate Edwards and Karenna Gore Schiff to rally early voters on Bayshore Boulevard.
About 200 Democratic activists and a handful of curious joggers followed political banners to Fred Ball Park, a ribbon of grass behind Tampa's picturesque thoroughfare. They had barely two minutes - from start to finish of the speech - to size up Chelsea Clinton's star power.
"I knew I had to be here today because the stakes are too high, and the differences in the two candidates are too clear," Clinton said in a resolute, light voice. "I believe in John Kerry and John Edwards. I believe in their plans for America, and I know they will succeed because of what we experienced in the eight years that my father was president."
She spoke mostly of her father's accomplishments, not the 2004 Democratic candidates, reminding voters that her father had the federal budget balanced, and Americans felt secure at home and abroad.
Just as her face grew into her parents' features, Chelsea Clinton inherited their ability to connect with a crowd.
While the other four Democratic daughters received polite applause, the crowd surged forward to embrace Chelsea on her way off the stage. They held up babies for her to kiss, and she pecked like a pro. Her signature turned campaign signs into pieces of history.
As the young woman smiled for dozens of photographs, she answered questions about her parents. Dad was recovering well after his recent heart bypass surgery. She brushed off talk that her mom would run for president.
"We've got to get Kerry in there first," she said.
Even as the door closed on a caravan of Democratic daughters, fans raced for a final photograph and handshake with Chelsea Clinton.
"She has that charisma that her father has," said Claudette Austin, a Democratic volunteer who lives in Westchase. "It's the memory that she triggers."
Tampa's exclusive didn't last long. Clinton's schedule called for appearances with the other Democratic daughters at events at Kissimmee and Plantation by the day's end.
But the thrill of her debut lingered during an afternoon rally in Kissimmee.
"This is only my second political speech," Clinton began. No doubt it won't be her last.
Times staff writer Anita Kumar contributed to this report. Letitia Stein can be reached at 661-2443 or lstein@sptimes.com