Hillary Rodham Clinton, the first woman to secure a major party’s presidential nomination, turned the baton over to Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, saying she has what it takes to beat Donald Trump in November.
“I want my grandchildren and their grandchildren to know I was here at this moment, that we were here and that we were with Kamala Harris every step of the way,” Mrs. Clinton told delegates at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. “This is our time, America. This is when we stand up. This is when we break through. The future is here, it’s within our grasp. Let’s go win it.”
Mr. Trump ushered Mrs. Clinton into political retirement with his stunning 2016 victory. Now she’s working for a bit of revenge.
The crowd greeted Mrs. Clinton with one of the most sustained applauses of the night. At one point, after Mrs. Clinton said Mr. Trump made history as the first person “to run for president with 34 felony convictions,” the crowd shouted “Lock him up” — the same jab Mr. Trump’s crowds used against Mrs. Clinton in 2016.
Mrs. Clinton traced women’s political struggle back to the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, up through 1984, when a woman appeared on the ticket as a vice presidential pick, to her own run, when she said “nearly 66 million Americans voted for a future where there are no ceilings on our dreams.”
“The story of my life and the history of our country is that progress is possible but not guaranteed. We have to fight for it and never, ever give up,” she said.
Her speech Monday juggled attempts to elevate Ms. Harris and to jab at Mr. Trump.
“The Constitution says the president’s job is to take care that the laws be faithfully executed. Those are the words of our founders. ‘Take care.’ Just look at the candidates. Kamala cares. Cares about kids and families cares about America. Donald only cares about himself,” Mrs. Clinton said.
She said Ms. Harris brings “character” and “vision” to her job.
“We both got our start as young lawyers helping children who were abused and neglected. That kind of work changes a person. Those kids stay with you,” Mrs. Clinton said. “Kamala carries with her the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped, every community she served.”
As for Mr. Trump, she said he “fell asleep at his own trial.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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