‘She’s a change-maker’
Clinton addresses Democratic convention as his wife becomes first female major-party presidential nominee
PHILADELPHIA — Hillary Clinton, the former secretary of state, senator and first lady, became the first female presidential nominee of a major party on Tuesday as Democrats gave her the prize that narrowly eluded her in 2008.
Delegates at the Democratic National Convention here cast votes — based on election results and the preferences of party officials — that awarded Clinton the nomination. But her formal rival, U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, made another gesture for unity by calling for Clinton to be nominated by consensus voice vote.
Former President Bill Clinton praised his wife as “a natural leader, a good organizer and the best darn change-maker I’ve ever met in my whole life.”
Clinton said, “She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is.”
In his folksy and expansive way, Clinton recounted his first meetings with Hillary at law school — and his three subsequent marriage proposals — her early work as an advocate for children and their many years together in public life.
“Hillary opened my eyes to a whole new world of public service by private citizens,” he said, addressing a convention hall packed to the rafters with delegates
listening raptly.
“She’s a change-maker. That’s what she does,” he said.
He called the birth of their daughter, Chelsea, the best moment of his life and said he was convinced “that my daughter had the best mother in the whole world.”
Hillary Clinton, 68, is scheduled to accept the nomination on Thursday and give a speech that will sketch the themes of her general election matchup against Republican Donald Trump.
Clinton was the early favorite for the nomination in 2008, but then-Sen. Barack Obama made history by becoming the first black presidential nominee of a major party and, then, president.
Obama and Vice President Joe Biden are set to speak Wednesday night, along with Clinton’s running mate, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, of Virginia.
Speakers
The second night of the four-night convention featured advocates for Hillary Clinton and the issues she champions.
Among the more powerful presenters were nine members of the Mothers of the Movement, a group of mothers whose children were lost to gun violence or were killed by police officers.
Sybrina Fulton, whose son, Trayvon Martin, was shot killed by a Florida man who was later acquitted, said, “I didn’t want this spotlight. But will I do everything I can to focus some of that light on a path out of this darkness.
“Hillary Clinton has the compassion and understanding to comfort a grieving mother. She has the courage to lead the fight for common-sense gun legislation. And she has a plan to repair the divide that so often exists between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Clinton’s formal nomination was followed immediately by a new chapter in the saga of Sanders’ delegates and their rejection of the Democratic Party.
Many of Sanders delegates walked out of the Wells Fargo Center and camped out temporarily in media tents just outside the arena.
Tiffany Phillips, who helped run Sanders’ successful campaign in Oklahoma, said a few of the Sanders delegates from the state joined the walkout.
The state delegation on Tuesday cast 22 of its 42 votes for Sanders.
Some of the Sanders delegates have expressed reservations here this week about supporting Clinton.