Hillary Clinton delivered a fiery critique of Donald Trump during her spotlight moment at the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, charging him with making a dubious mark by being “the first person to run for president with multiple felony convictions.”
The 2016 standard-bearer was received with thunderous applause and a standing ovation from thousands as she graced the stage at the bustling United Center.
Kicking off her speech, Clinton expressed her gratitude towards Joe Biden for his tenure as President, prior to unleashing a blistering attack on Trump.
With remarkable candour, she declared: “Donald Trump fell asleep at his own trial and when he woke up he made his own kind of history – the first person to run for president with 34 felony convictions,” igniting a chorus of “lock him up” chants among the engaged audience.
As the DNC hits its stride this week, an anticipated crowd of 50,000 is expected at the United Center, marking a historic mid-campaign pivot from Biden to Harris, and echoed refrains of “lock him up” rang out during Clinton’s riposte, reports the Express US.
Adding to the display of defiance, Clinton threw her support behind Democratic nominee Kamala Harris with emphatic praise, asserting that Harris would be a relentless advocate for the nation.
Clinton avowed: “As president, she will always have our backs and she will be a fighter for us. She will fight to lower costs for hard-working families, open the doors wide for good paying jobs and, yes, she will restore abortion rights nationwide,” drawing more enthusiastic reaction from the crowd.
Concluding her impassioned discourse, the former Secretary of State paid a heartfelt tribute to President Biden, lauding him as “democracy’s champion.”
“She brought dignity, decency, and competence back to the White House and he showed what it means to be a true patriot,” she expressed.
The inaugural night on Monday saw incumbent Joe Biden passing the baton to his chosen successor, albeit four years earlier than he had planned for her to succeed him.
Democrats are pinning their hopes on the weeklong event to catapult Harris towards a showdown with Trump, whose bid to return to the White House is perceived by Democrats as a dire threat.
Having assumed the ticket just a month ago, Harris now faces the challenge of winning over a divided nation that is viewing her more favourably but remains undecided about the election.
Beyond the grandeur of the convention, the event arrives at a critical juncture for the party and its fresh nominee.
A misstep could potentially trip up Harris at a time when her candidacy has been experiencing a surge in funding, momentum and even elation.
And genuine questions linger regarding the depth of Harris’ newfound support, the extent of her coalition and the potency of her movement.
