Everybody wanted pins.

As he made his way around Boston, Mike Broderick of Bethel was surprised how many Bostonians asked him for Kerry-Edwards pins.

“I keep running out,” said the National Democratic Convention delegate Monday in a phone interview. “People want to be a part of this.”

“It’s like, We can do this. We can win the White House,'” said delegate Elaine Makas of Lewiston, returning from a luncheon for legislators in Boston’s North End.

“There’s really a good feeling here. Everybody is psyched,” she said Monday.

Fresh from a Veterans for Kerry caucus, Ed Desgrosseilliers of Auburn was exhilarated after listening to James Carville, the “Ragin’ Cajun” of TV’s “Crossfire,” and veteran and amputee Max Cleland.

Carville “told us how we had to get the bandits out of the White House,” delegate Desgrosseilliers said.

The Democrats’ stars were out Monday in Boston for the national convention. Not even tight security could put the squeeze on the rising enthusiasm.

Veterans for Kerry is the largest group of veterans involved in a political campaign, Desgrosseilliers said. Cleland, a triple-amputee veteran from Georgia who lost re-election to the U.S. Senate, told veterans that John Kerry will be a president who would improve foreign relations and not carry the arrogance of the Bush administration.

With that, the military – like Desgrosseilliers’ son Todd, heading to Iraq in September – would be better off, he said.

Veterans from all over the country are united behind Kerry, Desgrosseilliers said. “It was moving and very stirring because of the brotherhood.”

Security Monday was obvious.

Going into the convention center was like boarding a plane, Broderick said. Delegates had to turn on their cell phones to prove they worked. Contents from pockets were emptied into baskets and examined. A cell phone clip was enough to set off a metal detector, he said.

Outside, helicopters circled. Sharpshooters watched from roofs. On the streets a large paramilitary police presence patrolled in riot gear. A few carried automatic weapons.

The security was unusual for American soil, delegates said. But terrorist concerns didn’t dampen the mood. “It’s visible, but the security people are helpful and nonconfronting,” Desgrosseilliers said.

“People are really positive about the ticket and the probabilities in November,” Broderick agreed as he talked about the political superstars they had heard and were to hear.

Monday morning the Maine delegates ate breakfast together while listening to Democratic humorist and radio commentator Al Franken of Air America. “He was funny but also absolutely serious about how important this election is,” Makas said.

This morning the Maine delegates are scheduled to breakfast with Maine native and former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell. On Wednesday they eat with former Texas Gov. Ann Richards. On Thursday, it’s breakfast with Bill Press of MSNBC and CNN.

All three area delegates were looking forward to the prime-time speeches by former presidents Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, and by John Kerry himself.

On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, Broderick said he would be part of the audience behind the prime-time speakers. “It will give me a unique perspective, and I’ll love looking at the audience.”

So far things were going smoothly. Bostonians seemed happy to have so many Democrats in town, they said. Traffic snarls had not yet materialized.

“But tonight they’re going to close five or six miles of (Interstate) 93,” Makas said.

Asked about Kerry getting booed at the Boston Red Sox game Sunday, Broderick said the boos were directed not at Kerry the candidate, but Kerry the hurler, who threw out the first pitch.

He “didn’t get it past the plate,” Broderick said.