Hillary Clinton made history by accepting the Democratic nomination at the party’s national convention in Philadelphia.
The former secretary of state has told voters the presidential election is a “moment of reckoning”.
Speaking on the final night of the Democratic convention, the first woman nominated by a major party said there were huge challenges.
Hillary Clinton accused her Republican opponent in November’s election, Donald Trump, of sowing discord.
“He wants to divide us – from the rest of the world, and from each other.”
Donald Trump tweeted that the speech had failed to address the threat posed by radical Islam, making Hillary Clinton unfit to lead the country.
Before taking the stage, Hillary Clinton’s daughter Chelsea shared personal memories of her mother.
Photo Getty Images
“My wonderful, thoughtful, hilarious mother,” she said.
Chelsea Clinton added: “She was always there for me.”
After embracing her daughter, Hillary Clinton delivered a speech which featured a stark admission about the threats to national unity.
“Bonds of trust and respect are fraying. And just as with our founders there are no guarantees. It truly is up to us. We have to decide whether we’re going to work together so we can all rise together.”
The former secretary of state and first lady added: “We are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have.”
The risk to American prosperity included inequality, limited social mobility, political gridlock, “threats at home and abroad” and frustration over wage stagnation, Hillary Clinton said.
However, the Democratic nominee was confident these challenges could be overcome with the American values of “freedom and equality, justice and opportunity”.
Hillary Clinton acknowledged that too many Americans had been “left behind” by economic forces and addressed them directly: “Some of you are frustrated – even furious. And you know what? You’re right.”
Another highlight at the convention on July 28 was when the father of a fallen Muslim soldier challenged Donald Trump over his Muslim ban, prompting an ovation.
General John Allen, former commander of US forces in Afghanistan, appeared on stage with other military veterans and gave Hillary Clinton a ringing endorsement as commander-in-chief.
Hillary Clinton’s high-stakes remarks on the closing night of the four-day convention followed a rousing speech by President Barack Obama.
Barack Obama said on July 27 there had never been a man or woman more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president.
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are set for an election battle widely considered to be a tight race when voters head to the polls in November.
President Barack Obama praised Hillary Clinton at the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, as the most qualified person ever to run for the White House.
He urged voters to help continue his legacy by carrying Hillary Clinton to victory at the polls in November.
Barack Obama said voters faced a choice between hope and fear, attacking “homegrown demagogue” Republican Donald Trump.
Donald Trump rejected the president’s optimistic portrayal tweeting: “Our country does not feel <great already> to the millions of wonderful people living in poverty, violence and despair.”
Vice-President Joe Biden also delivered his own spirited address, saying Donald Trump “backs torture”, “religious intolerance” and “betrays our values”.
“He has no clue about what makes America great,” Joe Biden said, before the crowd started chanting, “Not a clue!”
President Barack Obama and outgoing Secretary of State Hillary Clinton gave a rare joint interview for CBS’ 60 Minutes
Barack Obama closed the evening by recounting his key victories over his past eight years in office and painting an optimistic future for the country.
He extolled Hillary Clinton’s character, calling her a “leader with real plans to break down barriers, blast through glass ceilings and widen the circle of opportunity to every single American”.
However, the president also addressed Donald Trump’s grim portrait of America, noting it was “not the America I know”.
Instead, President Obama described his nation as “full of courage”, “decent and generous”, but also concerned about racial divisions and “frustrated with political gridlock”.
Praising the qualities of American people, Barack Obama addressed them directly when he said: “Time and again, you’ve picked me up. I hope, sometimes, I picked you up, too.
“Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me.”
Hilalry Clinton joined the president on stage for a hug after he finished speaking.
In his response, Donald Trump said in a statement that the Democrats had described a vision of America that did not exist for most people.
Seventy percent of Americans thought the country was on the wrong track, said the Republican nominee, who defied all predictions to win the Republican primary contest.
“Never has a party been so disconnected from what is happening in our world.”
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine took the stage to “humbly” accept his party’s nomination for vice-president and then go on the attack.
“Folks, you cannot believe one word that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth,” he said.
The crowd then erupted into chants of “Not one word!”
Hillary Clinton will officially accept the nomination on July 28, setting up an election fight with Donald Trump that will take them to the presidential election in November.
Bill Clinton has backed why his wife and “best friend” Hillary for president at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
Bill Clinton told the audience that Hillary was the “best darn change-maker I’ve ever known”.
In a very personal speech, the former president spoke warmly about how they met and her dedication to public service.
Hours earlier, Hillary Clinton became the first woman to be officially nominated for president by any major US party.
Hillary Clinton ended the night with a video message, saying: “I can’t believe we just put the biggest crack in that glass ceiling yet.
“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.”
Hillary and Bill Clinton were to headline Senator Tom Harkin’s annual steak fry fundraiser in rural Indianola
Earlier, Bill Clinton shared the story of how he and Hillary met at Yale Law School in the spring of 1971.
“I married my best friend,” said the ex-president.
“We’ve been walking and talking and laughing together ever since.”
Hillary Clinton, a former secretary of state and first lady, was uniquely qualified to be president, her husband said.
“Hillary opened my eyes to a whole new world of public service by private citizens,” Bill Clinton said before recounting her early career.
Hours before he spoke, Hillary Clinton passed the 2,382 delegates needed to claim the nomination after South Dakota announced its delegate vote count.
In a symbolic gesture of party unity, former Democratic rival Senator Bernie Sanders took the microphone to declare Hillary Clinton as the nominee by acclamation, to an eruption of cheers.
The second night of the Democratic convention focused on race and justice, topics that dominated last week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland.
Dissention on the convention floor plagued the first day when Bernie Sanders supporters booed throughout the event.
At the 2008 Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton called for a vote for Barack Obama by acclamation, ending the roll call vote in an effort to unite the party behind his candidacy.
Hillary Clinton will face off against Donald Trump in November.
Recent national polls suggest Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump will be in a tight race for the White House.
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has said that Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States, in a speech at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia.
Bernie Sanders received a three-minute standing ovation when he took the stage.
First Lady Michelle Obama also received a rapturous reception for a powerful speech in which she took on Republican nominee Donald Trump.
“Don’t let anyone ever tell you that this country isn’t great, that somehow we need to make it great again,” Michelle Obama said, referring to Donald Trump’s signature slogan “Make America Great Again”.
“Because this, right now, is the greatest country on earth,” the First Lady added.
Earlier in the evening, Bernie Sanders’ fans had booed any mention of Hillary Clinton, who will accept the party’s presidential nomination on July 28.
And as he urged Democrats to back Hillary Clinton, his former rival, in the final major speech of the night, they held aloft their blue “Bernie” signs and chanted his name.
Some supporters broke into tears while others wore duct tape emblazoned with the words “silenced” over their mouths.
Photo Getty Images
Bernie Sanders continued: “While Donald Trump is busy insulting one group after another, Hillary Clinton understands that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths.
“If you don’t believe this election is important, if you think you can sit it out, take a moment to think about the Supreme Court justices that Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties, equal rights and the future of our country.”
Members of the audience had earlier disrupted the event’s opening prayer, chanting “Bernie!” while also jeering as Democratic National Committee chair Marcia Fudge delivered remarks.
The commotion prompted Bernie Sanders to send an email saying the credibility of the progressive movement would be damaged by “booing, turning of backs, walking out or other similar displays” of protests.
Revelations from an email leak which showed DNC officials allegedly plotted against Bernie Sanders’ primary campaign threatened to overshadow the event as it fuelled the anger of his voters.
WikiLeaks released emails that revealed the DNC was biased against Bernie Sanders when he ran against Hillary Clinton in the hard-fought primary contest.
The FBI has confirmed that it is investigating the leak.
Democratic chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz resigned on July 24 as pressure built on the party to address the scandal.
Democratic party bosses later issued an apology to Bernie Sanders for “inexcusable” emails which tried to undermine his White House campaign.
However, Bernie Sanders refused to let the email scandal eclipse his message to his supporters.
“Hillary Clinton will make an outstanding president and I am proud to stand with her here tonight,” said the Vermont senator before leaving the stage.
About 5,000 party delegates are among the 50,000 people expected to attend the four-day Democratic convention, which will end on July 28 with Hillary Clinton formally accepting the nomination for president.
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