Philadelphia: Hillary Clinton on Wednesday created history in the US politics by becoming the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US party as she secured the backing of the Democrats at the convention here to set up an epic clash with Republican rival Donald Trump in the November polls.
Clinton, who has been secretary of state, first lady and a Senator from New York, secured her nomination at the Democratic National Convention here after a majority of the 4,764 party delegates formally backed her.
If elected in the November 8 polls, Clinton would become America’s first female president and commander-in-chief.
In an electrifying end to the Democratic convention’s second night, Clinton appeared by video from New York, saying, “What an incredible honour that you have given me and I can’t believe we just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet.”
“This is really your victory. This is really your night.
And if there are any little girls out there who stayed up late to watch, let me just say I may become the first woman president but one of you is next,” the 68-year-old said.
“Hillary Clinton will be our first woman president.
And she will be a great president." —Meryl Streep https://t.co/nCOhgJmzNz
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) July 27, 2016
Her rival from the primaries, Bernie Sanders moved a resolution for her nomination when the roll call got to his home state of Vermont — sending out a vital message of unity for a party struck by deep divisions.
“I move that Hillary Clinton be nominated as the Democratic Party’s presidential candidate of the United States,” Sanders said as he called for suspension of rules to pave the way for unanimous nomination of Clinton as the party’s presidential candidate.
Moments later, the Democratic delegates nominated Clinton as the party’s presidential candidate, setting up a high-stakes showdown with Republican Trump.
“This moment is for every little girl who dreams big.
#WeMadeHistory,” tweeted Clinton.
“Stronger together,” she said in another tweet.
Clinton’s nomination was proposed by Congresswoman Barbara A Mikulski, the first Democratic woman elected to the Senate, and the first woman to chair the powerful Senate Committee on Appropriations.
“It is with a full heart that I am here today as we nominate Hillary Clinton to be the first woman president,” she said.
“Many of you have broken barriers. You were the first to go to college. You were the first to start a business. Maybe the first to be a citizen. But you knew when you broke a barrier you didn’t do it for yourself. You did it so others would not have to face them again. That’s what Hillary wants to do. She wants to break down all the barriers to opportunity,” Mikulski said.
Legendary civil rights leader and Congressman John Lewis seconded Clinton’s name as the Democratic presidential nominee.