BOSTON — Members of Utah's delegation to the Democratic National Convention weren't ready to consider Hillary Rodham Clinton as a future presidential candidate Monday night.

The former first lady, now New York's freshman senator, has been widely touted for the party's pick in 2008 should John Kerry lose in November.

That's not the way at least some of the Utahns gathered in the Fleet Center for the opening night of the four-day convention see the race shaping up, however.

Even so, they and just about every other person in the sports arena were on their feet for both Hillary and her husband, the former president, during their much-anticipated speeches in prime time.

"They're committed. You can feel it," said Nancy Woodside, vice chairman of Utah's Democratic Party. "Their support of John Kerry and John Edwards left nothing to be desired. It was heartfelt."

Woodside, though, said she wasn't prepared to think ahead to the next campaign. This race is too important to lose focus, she said.

Nichole Adams, chairman of the Salt Lake County Democratic Party, agreed it was too soon to even speculate.

"I think Hillary is a great senator, and she was a wonderful first lady," Adams said. "But that many years away is an eternity in politics."

Adams and other delegates, though, said they'd like to see the party nominate a woman. Most stopped short of saying that woman should be the controversial Sen. Clinton.

"She's not my first choice," said Patrice Arent, a Utah state senator. "There are a lot of capable women who could run for president, including the governors of Arizona and Kansas."

Delegate Andy Gallegos, a retired former state government official, said there's still a "feeling out there of defensiveness about the Clintons."

That's especially true in Utah, where President Clinton angered many of the state's residents with his surprise declaration of the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Sen. Clinton would have a tough time winning support in Utah, Gallegos said, "because of the makeup of our state. It's a patriarchal society."

Utah delegates said even the folks back home could be persuaded to vote for Kerry if they just paid attention to the Clintons, especially Bill.

"I've never been a Clintonite," Salt Lake County Councilman Joe Hatch said. "But he's one of the greatest speakers, and he really laid it out."

Hatch was particularly impressed with Clinton's focus on the Massachusetts senator's choice to serve in Vietnam at a time when others — included Clinton himself — avoided the draft.

"He's talking about the same values that are Utah values," Hatch said. "I hope they'll listen, because that was a remarkable speech."

The Clintons capped off a night that included a stirring tribute to the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks against the United States. Utah delegates sat silently as actress Glenn Close asked for a "vow never to forget that terrible day."

After hearing from a woman who lost family members that day, the nearly 5,000 delegates stood and held tiny flashlights as a young violist played the hymn, "Amazing Grace."

"That was beautiful," Utah delegate Gina Wickwar said afterward in a quiet voice. "That was just beautiful."

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