Hillary Clinton makes history with Democratic presidential nomination
'She always wants to move the ball forward, that is just who she is,' Bill Clinton says
Hillary Clinton says Democrats "just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling" on the night of her presidential nomination.
In a brief video appearance near the end of the second night of the convention she offered a message to any of the little girls who stayed up to watch.
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"I may become the first woman president, but one of you is next."
After her historic nomination vote, supporters — ranging from children's advocates to celebrities to other politicians — took the stage one after the other to talk about Clinton's work, particularly for children's causes.
As the night's keynote speaker, Clinton's husband, former president Bill Clinton, strode onto the stage and launched into a speech about his wife's accomplishments — and his relentless efforts to convince her to marry him.
"The third time was the charm," Clinton said of his repeated proposals.
"I married my best friend. I was still in awe after more than four years of being around her at how smart and strong and loving and caring she was."
The former president's speech at the Democratic National Convention was personal, but also focused on many of the same issues addressed by earlier speakers, emphasizing her focus, drive and her history working on issues like children's rights and voting rights.
"She always wants to move the ball forward, that is just who she is," he said.
He talked about the shift she made when she moved from working as a senator to serving as secretary of state, where she worked for her former primary rival President Barack Obama.
"She put climate change at the centre of our foreign policy, she negotiated the first agreement ever — ever — where China and India officially committed to reduce their emissions," he said, before highlighting her work on women's rights and LGBT rights while she served in that post.
The crowd erupted in cheers as the former president said Clinton is the "best darn change-maker I have ever known."
"There are clear, achievable, affordable responses to our challenges," he said Tuesday night. "But we won't get to them if America makes the wrong choice in this election."
Michelle Obama was a star of the convention's opening night, making an impassioned case for Hillary Clinton as the only candidate in the presidential race worthy of being a role model for the nation's children. President Barack Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden will speak Wednesday, along with Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, Clinton's new running mate.
'She doesn't build walls around her heart'
Tuesday night's stories about Clinton were being told by a long list of lawmakers, actors like Lena Dunham and America Ferrera, as well as activists on a range of issues, including the "Mothers of the Movement" — several black women who lost children to gun violence or after contact with police.
Clinton has met privately with the mothers and held events with them, and they've become an emotional force for her campaign.
Geneva Reed-Veal, mother of Sandra Bland, said she was with Clinton because "she is a leader and a mother who will say our children's names." Bland died last year in her cell after being jailed following a traffic stop.
Lucy McBath, Jordan Davis's mother, said that not only did Clinton listen to the mothers as they outlined their problems, she invited them to be part of the solution.
"Hillary Clinton isn't afraid to say that black lives matter, she isn't afraid to sit at a table with grieving mothers and bear the full force of our anguish," McBath said. "She doesn't build walls around her heart."
Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, said Clinton "has the compassion and understanding to support grieving mothers. She has the courage to lead the fight for common sense gun legislation."
Before the mothers took the stage, with large red flowers pinned on their chests, Eric Holder, former U.S. attorney general took the stage, followed by Pittsburgh police Chief Cameron McLay.
Clinton aides believe a focus on policy is another way to rally Sanders supporters, especially those who threatened to stay home or vote for Republican Trump. While the opening night was interrupted by boos and chants of "Bernie," there were fewer signs of discord Tuesday.
Bernie Sanders supports Clinton
Earlier, delegates erupted in cheers as Clinton's primary rival, Bernie Sanders, helped make it official when the roll call got to his home state of Vermont — an important show of unity for a party trying to heal deep divisions.
"I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States," Sanders declared, asking that it be by acclamation.
It was a striking parallel to the role Clinton played eight years ago when she stepped to the microphone on the convention floor in support of her former rival, Barack Obama.
The roll call of states was one more opportunity for Sanders supporters to voice their fierce loyalty to the Vermont senator. Sanders sat in the arena soaking in the cheers and waving to the crowd.
The Vermont senator's brother, Larry Sanders, had a chance to speak when the votes for Democrats Abroad were being tallied during the roll call, saying, "It is with enormous pride that I cast my vote for Bernie Sanders.
But the convention belonged to Clinton, who will take on Trump in November.
Her landmark achievement saturated the roll call with emotion and symbols of women's long struggle to break through political barriers. A 102-year-old woman, born before women had the right to vote, cast the ballots for Arizona.
Martha McKenna, a Clinton delegate from Maryland, said the night felt like a celebration for Sanders's campaign as well as Clinton's. But the mother of two young girls said she was most excited to see Clinton officially named.
"The idea that I'm going to be here when the first woman president is nominated is overwhelming," she said
With files from CBC News