Sept. 2 was a hot night for Democrats.

Approximately 1,600 Mike Michaud supporters filled the steamy Portland Exposition Center to hear their candidate for governor — and his special guest speaker, former President Bill Clinton.

Speakers kept speeches short. Even Clinton only spoke for 20 minutes, due to the heat-filled space that seemed to intensify in temperature throughout the evening. Heat was a topic, albeit a brief one, in most every speech delivered.

Thunderous applause and chants of “We want Mike, We want Mike” broke out for Michaud as he took his place at the podium.

“I'm here to bring people together, not drive them apart. I know that our best days are ahead of us,” Michaud said. “Too many are out of work, or working too hard for too little, too many schools are underfunded and understaffed (applause), too many children have too little to eat, too many bridges are crumbling. Gov. (Paul) LePage is too divisive, too wed to his ideologies and too unwilling to listen to anyone who has the audacity to disagree with him. We need to bring people together to solve our problems. This election alone will not solve all our problems.

“Winning doesn't matter if its not a catalyst for change.”

Michaud said Democrats have a message for the current governor and his definition of welfare.

“Making sure that Mainers who work full time don't have to live in poverty is not welfare; and Social Security is, sure as heck, not welfare either.”

In his introduction of the 42nd president, Michaud said anyone who would have told him years ago that he would be running for governor and would have a former president campaigning for him, he would have told them they were crazy.

Clinton took the stage amidst thunderous applause, whistling and hollering.

Clinton told Michaud's supporters leadership is about having a vision and a strategy. It all comes down to three points: are people better off than when you first took office, do children have a bright future and are the people coming together for a common cause.

“Mike has a vision, a strategy and a plan. He knows how to treat people and bring them together,” Clinton said. “As governor, he will be practical, level headed and compassionate. I believe he will be an unbelievable governor.”

Clinton noted that in non-presidential election years voter turn out is lighter. He told Democrats their responsibility was to spread the word about their candidate and get people out to vote.

Clinton closed relating a story about a greeting used in Africa, one of the places where the Clinton Foundation does work, “I see you.”

“Think about what that means when someone says ‘I see you,’ think about the sense of community it creates, the opening of the human heart — this man,” said Clinton pointing at Michaud, “sees everybody in the room. And if you see him, he will be the next governor.”

Other speakers stumping for Michaud were Congresswoman Chellie Pingree and Portland's Mayor Michael Brennan; Shenna Bellows, running against incumbent Sen. Susan Collins, and Emily Cain, seeking to fill Congressman Michaud's seat representing the second district.