When Bill Clinton was making his bid for the presidency, I was not enthralled. I failed to see the charisma or to identify with him, as many of my generation, particularly women, did.

I have felt the same about Hillary for the most part. While I agree with many of her positions, I just don't feel inspired or awed by the Clinton mystique.

One of my reasons for wanting to see the former president in person in Pottstown today was to see if the live speaker had a different effect than the televised version. And, he did, but not because of charisma or dynamics. President Clinton's speech at Pottstown High School this morning was impressive, more because of content than delivery and m0re because of substance than sparkle.

That says more for Bill Clinton and the future of the Democratic party, I believe, than the beckoning call to go back to the peace and prosperity of the '90s.

Clinton spoke for 50 minutes -- that in itself says something about the tone of this campaign. Many expected 15 minutes of glitz and hand-shaking glamour, inviting Pottstown residents to join him in giving Hillary Clinton a chance to change the world. Campaign speeches, especially on road trips as ambitious as Clinton undertook today with five stops from Pottstown to State College, are cheerleading expeditions more than they are insightful looks at a candidate's positions.

But he offered the students and local residents jammed into the school gym specifics on health care, economic stimulus plans, alternative energy and affordable education. What's more, he did so in an intelligent manner that engaged the audience. Of the 900-some high school students crammed in the gym, I saw only a handful of yawns. Most were listening intently as Clinton went from a means to provide affordable health care for all citizens to how an energy-saving program could reduce pollution while creating "green-collar jobs."

He didn't patronize the students with strong-armed attempts to identify with their woes, but he offered enough references to flat incomes and rising costs and the danger of dropping out of college when loan costs get too high to let the kids know he understands their pain.

His message resonated with the audience, which included 90-year-old and nine-month-olds, who answered him with affirming nods more often than rousing cheers.

Bill Clinton was impressive in the scope of specifics he told, referring always to his wife's plans and proposals, not to the shortcomings of others. He spoke with the air of a statesman, not a politician, and reminded listeners that the lofty office of U.S. President is a heady place to be, demonstrating with that acknowledgement the humility people hunger for in an age of arrogant officeholders.

I left the Bill Clinton speech no more convinced that he is the ultimate charismatic leader of our times. But I left impressed. Perhaps, that is what his charisma is after all.