Bill crowns Hillary’s historic day
On a night awash in history, Hillary Clinton triumphantly became the first woman to lead a major American political party toward the White House, breaking through a barrier that painfully eluded her eight years ago.
She put an electrifying cap on the Democratic convention’s second night, appearing by video from New York and declaring to cheering delegates, ‘‘We just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet.’’
Minutes earlier, former President Bill Clinton took on the role of devoted political spouse. ‘‘Hillary is uniquely qualified to seize the opportunities and reduce the risks we face, and she is still the best darn change-maker I have ever known.’’
He traced their more than 40-year political and personal partnership in deep detail.
‘‘She has been around a long time,’’ he acknowledged. Casting her experience as an attribute, he added, ‘‘She’s been worth every single year she’s put into making people’s lives better.’’
Bill Clinton’s heartfelt address underscored the historic night for Democrats, and the nation. If she wins in November, the Clintons would also be the first married couple to each serve as president.
She will take on Donald Trump, who won the Republican nomi- nation a week ago. Trump, who campaigned yesterday in North Carolina, mocked the former presi- dent’s speech in advance, calling him ‘‘over-rated.’’
At Trump’s convention last week, Clinton was the target of blistering criticism of her character and judgment, a sharp contrast to the warm and passionate woman described by her husband. Seeking to explain the vastly different perceptions of his wife, Clinton said simply, ‘‘One is real, the other is made up.’’
Hillary Clinton leads a party still grappling with divisions. Moments after Clinton claimed the nomination, a group of Sanders supporters left the convention and headed to a media tent to protest what they said was their being shut out of the party.
Hillary Clinton’s landmark achievement saturated the roll call with emotion and symbols of women’s long struggle to break through political barriers. Jerry Emmett, a 102-year-old woman born before women had the right to vote, cast the ballots for Arizona.
The Democratic convention drew the party’s biggest stars to sweltering Philadelphia for the week-long event. On Tuesday night, first lady Michelle Obama made an impassioned case for Clinton as the only candidate in the presidential race worthy of being a role model for the nation’s children. President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will speak today, along with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine.