US: Clinton is first woman to get major party nomination

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON

Hillary Clinton made history Tuesday when Democrats formally made the former top diplomat their nominee to challenge Republican Donald Trump in the race for the White House.

Clinton hailed her nomination as "the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet" during a live video link address.

"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," she said from New York.

The second night of the Democratic National Convention largely stood in stark contrast to its opening day when diehard Bernie Sanders supporters interrupted speakers one after the other with chants of the Vermont Senator’s name.

During the roll call vote that saw Clinton officially become the Democratic nominee, Sanders moved to rally support behind Clinton.

“I move that all votes cast by delegates be reflected in the official record, and I move that Hillary Clinton selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States,” he said on the convention floor as the hall erupted in shouts of support.

Sanders fought back tears as his older brother, Larry, cast his vote for the Vermont senator.

"I want to bring before this convention the names of our parents: Eli Sanders, Dorothy Sanders," the senior Sanders said. “They loved the New Deal of Franklin Roosevelt and would be especially proud that Bernard is renewing that vision. It is with enormous pride that I cast my vote for Bernie Sanders."

Sanders fought a tooth and nail campaign, refusing to drop out even when defeat seemed certain.

Speaking later Tuesday evening, former President Bill Clinton made an impassioned plea for his wife, telling delegates that his wife has “always worked to make things better” while recounting her career in public service.

“She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is,” he said. “Hillary is uniquely qualified to seize the opportunities and reduce the risks we face. And she is still the best darn change maker I have ever known.”

But in a sign that not all have signed on to the wider effort to unify the Democratic Party, dozens of Sanders supporters walked out of the convention hall as Clinton's nomination was made official to protest the proceedings.

The Democratic Party has been wracked by discord since a trove of internal emails were leaked over the weekend. The documents indicated that party officials worked to undermine Sanders during the primary process, violating internal standards of neutrality.

The scandal has further hardened some Sanders supporters in their opposition to Clinton who was largely painted as the establishment candidate during the primary by her opponent.

Clinton now heads into the general election as the nominee of a splintered party that she will have to work to unify.

That could be a major undertaking. She is also dogged by public trust that has most recently been fueled by her use of a private email server during her tenure as Secretary of State.

And recent polls show her vying with Trump for every percentage point.