Obama: Clinton very well prepared
President says no matter how daunting the odds, Hillary never, ever quits
PHILADELPHIA — Their political fates now entwined, President Barack Obama is imploring voters to elect Hillary Clinton to the White House, appealing to the women, minorities and young people who powered his rise and are now crucial to hers. Obama’s address Wednesday night at the Democratic convention was a moment steeped in symbolism, the passing of the baton from a barrier-breaking president to a candidate trying to make history herself. Obama’s robust support for Clinton, his political foe-turned-friend, is also driven by deep concern that Republican nominee Donald Trump might win in November and unravel the president’s eight years in office.
Obama acknowledged economic and security anxieties have helped fuel Trump’s rise, but he argued they don’t define the country.
“The America I know is full of courage and optimism and ingenuity,” Obama said.
“As I’ve traveled this country, through all 50 states; as I’ve rejoiced with you and mourned with you, what I’ve also seen, more than anything, is what is right with America. I see people working hard and starting businesses; people teaching kids and serving our country. I see a younger generation full of energy and new ideas, unconstrained by what is, and ready to seize what ought to be.”
Obama said Clinton is more than ready to lead the nation.
“You know, nothing truly prepares you for the demands of the Oval Office. Until you’ve sat at that desk, you don’t know what it’s like to manage a global crisis or send young people to war. But Hillary’s been in the room; she’s been part of those decisions. She knows what’s at stake in the decisions our government makes for the working family,
the senior citizen, the small business owner, the soldier and the veteran,” Obama said. “Even in the middle of crisis, she listens to people, and keeps her cool, and treats everybody with respect. And no matter how daunting the odds; no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits.
“That’s the Hillary I know. That’s the Hillary I’ve come to admire. And that’s why I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America.”
Wednesday night’s Democratic lineup was aimed at emphasizing Clinton’s own national security credentials, a shift from two nights focused more on re-introducing her to voters as a champion for women’s issues, children and families. Among those taking the stage were former Pentagon and CIA chief Leon Panetta, who served alongside Clinton in Obama’s Cabinet.
Obama, too, was vouching for Clinton’s national security experience, recalling their work together during trying times.
“Even in the middle of crisis, she listens to people, and keeps her cool, and treats everybody with respect,” he said in speech excerpts. “And no matter how daunting the odds, no matter how much people try to knock her down, she never, ever quits.”
Obama was closing a night also featuring Vice President Joe Biden, and Clinton’s running mate, Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine.
In a move aimed at broadening Clinton’s appeal, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg — an independent who considered launching a third party bid for president — endorsed the Democratic nominee.
Clinton’s campaign believes GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump’s unorthodox candidacy will turn off moderate Republicans, particularly women, who worry he’s too unpredictable to take the helm in a turbulent world. They recognize that Republicans, as well as many Democrats, have questions about Clinton’s character but hope to ease those concerns.
Still, the core of Clinton’s strategy is putting back together Obama’s winning White House coalition. In both his campaigns, Obama carried more than 90 percent of black voters, the overwhelming majority of Hispanics, and more than half of young people and women.
That coalition was vividly on display in the first two nights of the convention in Philadelphia. Women lawmakers were prominently featured, along with young activists, immigrants, and mothers whose black children were victims of gun violence or killed during encounters with law enforcement.
Gun violence continued as a theme Wednesday night as families of mass shooting victims took the stage. Delegates rose in an emotional standing ovation for the mother of one of the victims in last month’s Orlando nightclub shooting, who asked why “commonsense” gun policies weren’t in place when her son died.
“I never want you to ask that question about your child,” Christine Leinonen said.
Capping the somber section of the program focused on gun violence, a group of Broadway singers performed a rousing rendition of “What the World Needs Now Is Love,” as the audience sang and swayed in unison.
Clinton’s base-boosting strategy has some Democrats worried that she is ceding too much ground to her opponent. Her convention has made little mention of the economic insecurity and anxiety that has, in part, fueled Trump’s rise with white, working-class voters.
Trump has cast himself as the “law-and-order” candidate and has promised to get tough on terrorists. Democrats have little noted the threat of terrorism or the Islamic State group, though both were expected to get more attention Wednesday night.
Clinton’s convention has been awash in history, with energized delegates celebrating her formal nomination as the first woman to ever lead a major political party in the general election. Some supporters of Clinton’s primary rival, Bernie Sanders, continued to voice their displeasure with the pick, but there was nothing they could do to take the nomination away from Clinton.
“As of yesterday, I guess, officially our campaign ended,” Sanders acknowledged during a meeting with New England delegates.