CHICAGO — Hillary Clinton, the primary lady to clinch a serious political get together’s presidential nomination, on the primary night time of the Democratic Nationwide Conference praised Vice President Kamala Harris — the second lady in U.S. historical past to be nominated — for her shiny imaginative and prescient for the nation and her capacity to guide the nation ahead.

“The story of my life and the historical past of our nation is that progress is feasible, however not assured,” Clinton advised a packed crowd within the United Middle. “We now have to battle for it. And by no means, ever hand over.”

Clinton, the 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, stated that collectively, girls have put “quite a lot of cracks within the highest, hardest glass ceiling.”

“On the opposite facet of that tumbler ceiling is Kamala Harris taking the oath of workplace as our forty seventh President of america,” she stated. “When a barrier falls for considered one of us, it … clears the best way for all of us.”

Clinton stated that Harris’ historic nomination, as the primary Black and South Asian lady on the high of a serious get together ticket, is a chance for the nation to progress.

Clinton stated that each technology has “carried the torch ahead,” and that Harris will carry that torch as she pushes for the restoration of abortion entry, inexpensive housing and baby care.

Harris has usually promised to revive Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court docket ruling that gave Individuals the constitutional proper to an abortion. Nevertheless, to be able to cross laws in Congress, Democrats would want to manage the Home and have 60 votes within the Senate to advance laws previous the filibuster.

Ladies in historical past

Clinton highlighted Democratic girls who had damaged boundaries all through historical past.

She cited the late U.S. Rep. Shirley Chisholm, the primary lady to run for the Democratic Occasion presidential nomination, and the primary Black individual to hunt to be a serious get together’s candidate for president, and the late U.S. Rep. Geraldine Ferraro, the primary lady nominated for the vice presidency by a serious political get together.

Clinton stated that accepting the presidential nomination was the best honor of her life. She touched on her loss to Donald Trump in 2016, and famous that regardless of it, there was a wave of ladies who ran for public workplace following Trump’s ascension to the White Home.

“We refused to surrender on America,” she stated.

Clinton stated that when she appears at Harris’ marketing campaign she sees freedom.

“I see freedom from worry and intimidation, from violence and injustices, from chaos and corruption,” she stated.

Harris certainly has framed her marketing campaign as a battle for freedom, and as an effort to maneuver ahead versus Trump and the GOP. Moreover, Beyonce’s tune “Freedom” is the marketing campaign’s anthem.

Harris speaks

Harris, who made a quick shock look earlier than Clinton spoke, thanked President Joe Biden for his management earlier than she confused that the November elections are a battle for the longer term.

“This November, we’ll come collectively and declare with one voice, as one folks, we’re transferring ahead,” Harris stated. “All of us have a lot extra in widespread than what separates us.”

Harris is anticipated to provide her speech accepting the nomination on Thursday night time.

Clinton stated that Harris can be “for the folks,” which was additionally the theme of the primary night time of the conference. Clinton criticized Trump and stated that the previous president solely cares about himself, not Individuals.

She stated that Democrats have Trump “on the run,” however urged them to not get too comfy, at the same time as Harris’ marketing campaign has energized Democrats throughout the nation. Clinton warned Democrats to not depend on the polls, which have proven Harris both gaining on Trump or forward, and stated they need to maintain campaigning till November.

Since Biden suspended his reelection marketing campaign, after a disastrous June debate that rattled his get together’s perception in his capacity to defeat Trump, a number of battleground states that had been leaning towards Republicans, equivalent to Georgia, Nevada and Arizona, moved to a “toss-up,” in response to The Prepare dinner Political Report with Amy Walter. 

“It doesn’t matter what the polls say, we are able to’t let up,” Clinton stated.