CLINTON PLEDGES

Candidate promises steady hand at ‘moment of reckoning’

PHILADELPHIA >> Promising Americans a steady hand, Hillary Clinton cast herself Thursday night as a unifier for divided times, steeled for the challenges of a volatile world by decades in politics that have left some Americans skeptical that she understands their lives.

“I know that at a time when so much seems to be pulling us apart, it can be hard to imagine how we’ll ever pull together again,” Clinton said as she accepted the Democratic nomination, becoming the first woman to lead a major U.S. political party. “But I’m here to tell you tonight — progress is possible.”

Clinton took the stage to roaring applause from flagwaving delegates. But her real audience was the millions of voters who may welcome her experience but question her character.

Clinton acknowledged those concerns briefly, saying “I get it that some people just don’t know what to make of me.” But her primary focus was portraying herself as the only qualified candidate in a general election contest against Republican Donald Trump.

“Imagine him in the Oval

“...I’m here to tell you tonight — progress is possible.”

— Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton

Office facing a real crisis,” she said. “A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons.”

Clinton’s four-day convention began with efforts to shore up liberals who backed Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary and it ended with an outstretched hand to Republicans and independents

unnerved by Trump. A parade of military leaders, law enforcement officials and Republicans took the stage ahead of Clinton to endorse her in the general election contest with Trump.

“This is the moment, this is the opportunity for our future,” said retired Marine Gen. John R. Allen, a former commander in Afghanistan. “We must seize this moment to elect Hillary Clinton as president of the United States of America.”

American flags waved in the stands of the packed convention hall and the crowd broke into chants of “U-S-A!” drowning out scattered calls of “No more war.”

The Democratic nomination now officially hers, Clinton has just over three months to persuade Americans Trump is unqualified for the Oval Office and overcome the visceral connection he has with some voters in a way the Democratic nominee does not.

J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia , Thursday, July 28.

MATT ROURKE — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS California delegates hold up signs as they cheer for Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.

CAROLYN KASTER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Delegates react during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

CAROLYN KASTER — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Chelsea Clinton and former President Bill Clinton applaud as nominee Hillary Clinton speaks.