Hillary Clinton accepts Democrats' nomination in 'march toward more perfect union'

Robin de Peyer29 July 2016

Hillary Clinton has accepted the Democratic US presidential nomination with "humility, determination and boundless confidence in America's promise".

The former US secretary of state and first lady said the slogan "stronger together" that has been featured in her campaign was a guiding principle for the country, helping to define a future with a healthy economy "for everyone, not just those at the top".

Mrs Clinton told the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that it also meant good schools for both rich and poor and safe communities.

Rallying cry: Hillary Clinton after accepting the Democratic nomination
Getty Images

But she told Democrats not to believe anyone who said "I alone can fix it", in an attack on Republican rival, Donald Trump, who told his party delegates a week ago that he was the only one who could fix "the system".

Mrs Clinton warning that Mr Trump's words should "set off alarm bells for all of us" and accused him of forgetting people such as America's troops, police firefighters and teachers.

Making history: Hillary Clinton and husband Bill
Getty

Americans did not say, "I alone can fix it", but "we'll fix it together", she said.

Mrs Clinton emphasised her point by saying the Founding Fathers designed the US Constitution so America would be a nation where no one person had all the power.

She said she would be a president for Democrats, Republicans and independents - "for all those who vote for me and those who don't".

She told the convention she had met many people who motivated her to fight for change, including sick children and survivors of 9/11.

"It's true, I sweat the details of policy," Mrs Clinton said, adding that details should be a "big deal" to the president.

But Mrs Clinton said Democrats had not done a good enough job of showing working families that they understood what they were going through and said she agreed with families who have told her the economy was not working.

She said Americans were willing to work, and work hard, but right now, "an awful lot of people feel there is less and less respect for the work they do".

Celebrations: Balloons at the Democratic Convention in Philadelphia
AP

Mrs Clinton said her presidential nomination was a milestone on America's "march toward a more perfect union".

She is the first woman nominee of a major US party and told the convention that the achievement was special "for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between".

But she said the nation must keep going until all 161 million women and girls in the country had the opportunities they deserve.

"When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit," she said.

She said she was happy for boys and men, too, because when a barrier falls, it clears the way for all.

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