Hillary Clinton has called on Democratic voters to turn out in “overwhelming” numbers for the November election, arguing such an effort is needed to ensure Donald Trump does not “sneak or steal his way to victory”.
Addressing the Democratic national convention on Wednesday from her home in Chappaquiddick, New York, Clinton said she had spoken to a number of Americans who have said they wished they had voted in the last general election, or voted differently.
“For four years, people have said to me, ‘I didn’t realize how dangerous [Trump] was.’ ‘I wish I could go back and do it over.’ Or worst, ‘I should have voted,’” Clinton said. “Well, this can’t be another woulda-coulda-shoulda election.”
She added: “Vote like our lives and livelihoods are on the line, because they are.”
In 2016, Clinton, the first woman nominated for president by a major party, became the fifth presidential candidate to lose the US election despite winning the popular vote. In her address, she endorsed the Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, and vice-presidential nominee, Kamala Harris.
“Don’t forget, Joe and Kamala can win by 3 million votes and still lose. Take it from me,” Clinton warned. “We need numbers so overwhelming Trump can’t sneak or steal his way to victory.”
Following a video celebrating women’s suffrage, Clinton, wearing suffragette white, said Trump had taken office “with so much set up for him,” including a pandemic response team.
Clinton argued Trump could have been a more successful president “if he had put his own interests and ego aside”.
“I wish Donald Trump knew how to be a president because America needs a president right now,” Clinton said.
A few minutes into Wednesday’s proceedings, a fundraising email in the US president’s name contained a string of insults. “Just when I thought this pathetic event couldn’t get more CORRUPT, they decide to bring in CROOKED Hillary, Crazy Nancy, Pocahontas, Phony Kamala, and Lyin’ Obama all in ONE NIGHT,” it said.
It was a list that included Trump’s favourite nickname from 2016, “Crooked” Hillary Clinton, as well as his racist tag for Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Leaning into negative partisanship, the message added: “All of these Radical Democrats HATE me and they HATE YOU. They would love nothing more than to see us FAIL, which is why it’s going to take all hands on deck to make sure that never happens.”
In her speech, Clinton said she knew about the “slings and arrows” that vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris will likely face as a Black woman on the ticket.
“Believe me: this former district attorney and attorney general can handle them all,” she added.
Source: Elections - theguardian.com
