‘Suit up’ for Clinton, Mikulski urges

PHILADELPHIA — Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski told voters Thursday that Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton had spent much of her career focused on women’s issues, and urged women voters to return the favor this fall and “suit up” on her behalf.

Flanked by other Democratic female senators, Mikulski — the longest-serving woman in the history of Congress — described a telephone call she received from Clinton when the former first lady was considering a run for the Senate from New York.

“She said to me, ‘Senator Barb, can a senator really get things done?’ I told her, ‘A lot,’ and boy, did she prove me right.”

Mikulski received robust applause in the hall when she began to discuss her own history. She also spoke Tuesday, when she formally submitted Clinton’s name for the nomination ahead of the roll call of states.

Also appearing on stage Thursday was retired Marine Corps Gen. John R. Allen, who was commandant of the Naval Academy from 2002 to 2003.

Allen, a1976 academy graduate who went on to command U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan, delivered a prime-time address focused heavily on Clinton’s foreign diplomacy credentials.

His appearance served to counter comments by Republican nominee Donald Trump, suggesting he might not come to the aid of NATO allies unless they had paid their dues to the organization — an idea that would reverse nearly seven decades of U.S. foreign policy.

“With [Clinton] as our commander-inchief, America will continue to lead in this volatile world,” Allen said. “With Hillary Clinton as our commander-in-chief, the United States will continue to be that indispensable, transformational power in the world.”

“Families of America, it’s time to suit up. Women, put your lipstick on. Men, polish those shoes. Our shoulders squared,” Mikulski said.

“We’re ready to fight to put Hillary in the White House. Because we know she’ll carry the torch for all of us.”