ELECTIONS 2016

Bill Clinton's emotional ode to his wife after her historic nomination

John Bacon, and Richard Wolf
USA TODAY

PHILADELPHIA — Hillary Rodham Clinton won the Democratic Party's nomination for president of the United States Tuesday, becoming the first woman to lead a major-party ticket and setting up a brutal, three-month battle against insurgent Republican billionaire Donald Trump.

The former first lady, New York senator and secretary of State appeared in a glass-shattering video from New York at the end of the convention's second night, which featured a deeply personal biography delivered by her husband, former president Bill Clinton.

Hillary Clinton appears via video link during the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

"What an incredible honor you have given me," Hillary Clinton said. "We just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet."

She was lauded throughout the evening by a litany of prominent and lesser known backers whose lives she has influenced during her decades of public service, culminating in Bill Clinton's 10th consecutive Democratic National Convention speech.

Former President Bill Clinton speaks on stage during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

“For this time, Hillary is uniquely qualified," he said, offering a lengthy review of her career helping children, minorities, the poor and people with disabilities.

“She’s a natural leader, she’s a good organizer, and she’s the best darn change-maker I’ve ever met in my entire life,” he added. “She always wants to move the ball forward. That is just who she is.”

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The former president gave his rapt audience a complete oral biography of his wife's life as a daughter, student, wife, mother and advocate for social causes, focusing on her ability to tackle problems and solve them. “Hillary opened my eyes to a whole new world of public service by private citizens,” he said. "Always making things better."

Clinton made history by surviving a grueling, 15-month struggle against Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, whose devoted army of followers matched Clinton's in enthusiasm and noise level during the roll call vote inside the Wells Fargo Center.

Hillary Clinton supporters from Arkansas cheer during the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

In a dramatic effort to unite the fractured party after that primary campaign, Vermont was moved to the end of the roll call of states so that Sanders could move that Clinton be nominated by acclamation. His action, following a contentious opening day Monday, drew extended applause from the delegates as the song Happy blared through the arena.

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Sanders has drawn intense support at the convention. But Tuesday night belonged to Clinton, 68, who was extolled as a champion for women's' rights, children and families, health care and social justice. The evening included tributes from leaders in all those fields, from former secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former attorney general Eric Holder to mothers who lost their children to violence, inspiring the chant "Black Lives Matter."

"An enormous ceiling is coming down," said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood. "Tonight we are closer than ever to putting a woman in the White House."

"Donald Trump has called women 'fat pigs' and 'dogs.' He wants to punish women for having abortions. And he says pregnancy is, quote, an 'inconvenience' for a woman’s employer," Richards added. "Well, Mr. Trump, come November, women are going to be a lot more than an inconvenience -- because women are going to be the reason you’re not elected president."

Albright warmed up the crowd before Bill Clinton's appearance with a warning about the dangers of a Trump presidency. "Many have argued that Donald Trump would harm our national security if he were elected president," she said. "The fact is, he has already done damage, just by running for president."

Clinton won more than 2,800 delegates over the course of the campaign, well more than the 2,383 required to win the nomination, making the roll call a formality. Sanders claimed 1,894 delegates.

Still, it was an emotional night for delegates on both sides. Jerry Emmett, a 102-year-old retired educator who helped report Arizona's 51 votes for Clinton during the roll call, broke down after.

“I cried! I never cry,” she said.

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Robby Mook, Clinton's campaign manager, told USA TODAY the goal of Tuesday's session was to focus on her long career in public service. "Her core motivations were to break down barriers to opportunities, to help kids and families in this country to get ahead," he said.

Those bearing testament Tuesday night included Sybrina Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, who was shot dead in a Florida altercation in 2012. Clinton "has the courage to lead the fight for common-sense gun legislation,” Fulton said.

Lauren Manning, who survived burns over 80% of her body in the 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center, said Clinton "had my back" as a senator from New York. “I trusted her when my life was on the line, and she came through,” Manning said.

And Ima Matul, a survivor of sex trafficking as a teen-ager in Indonesia, noted that Clinton "was fighting to end modern slavery" long before it became a prominent issue.

As the convention proceeds, vice presidential nominee Tim Kaine, President Obama and Vice President Biden will headline Wednesday's session, preserving Thursday night for Clinton's acceptance speech.

Sanders, meanwhile, vowed that his "political revolution" will endure. He made the rounds of delegation breakfasts Tuesday, drawing cheers from Floridians as he encouraged delegates to help elect Clinton, defeat Trump and stay focused on the most important issues.

Sen. Bernie Sanders hugs a member of the Vermont delegation at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on Tuesday.

“It is not just about electing candidates,” he said. “It is about transforming the country. Now, the media doesn’t like talking about the real issues. But that’s what the American people want to hear."

Later, Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard placed Sanders' name in nomination, calling his campaign a "movement of love."

The convention debuted Monday to a bumpy start when party chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz was forced expedite her resignation following an email scandal indicating possible party efforts to undercut Sanders' candidacy. Chants of "Bernie!" erupted during the opening prayer and continued through the night, an indication that his delegates and supporters are having a tough time dealing with defeat.

The effort to unite the warring factions of the party was left to Sanders, the night's final speaker, and he did not disappoint. "I understand that many people here in this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process," he said. "I think it’s fair to say that no one is more disappointed than I am."

But Sanders said the country needs leadership to improve the lives of working families, the poor and the sick. “By these measures, any objective observer will conclude that – based on her ideas and her leadership – Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States,” he said.

Contributing: Nicole Gaudiano,Bartholomew Sullivan, Michael Squires