Former Secretary of State and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton spoke as the only other woman who has been in Harris’ place as a major party’s presidential nominee.
Clinton expressed her hope and confidence that Harris will be the one to break that glass ceiling.
“Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling,” she said. But the work, she said, is far from over.
“On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States,” Clinton said.
Clinton began her remarks by praising Mr. Biden for his service to the country.
“He has been democracy’s champion, at home and abroad,” Clinton said. “He brought dignity, decency and competence back to the White House. And he showed what it means to be a true patriot. Thank you, Joe Biden, for your lifetime of service and leadership.”
“And now we are writing a new chapter in America’s story,” she said.
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Clinton said her mother was born in Chicago before women had the right to vote. That changed 104 years ago Sunday, she said.
“And then, there was 2016, when it was the honor of my life to accept our party’s nomination for president,” she said.
Clinton encouraged Americans who are weary to keep going.
“Women fighting for reproductive health care are saying keep going!” she said. “Families building better lives, parents stretching to afford child care, young people struggling to pay the rent, they’re all asking us to keep going! So, with faith in each other and joy in our hearts, let’s send Kamala Harris and Tim Walz to the White House!”
Clinton said both she and Harris began their legal careers fighting for the rights and protections of endangered children.
“That kind of work changes a person,” Clinton said. “Those kids stay with you. Kamala carries with her the hopes of every child she protected, every family she helped, every community she served. So as president, she will always have our backs. And she will be a fighter for us.”
Clinton said, “We can’t let up.”
“We’re not just electing a president, we’re uplifting our nation,” she said. “We’re opening the promise of America wide enough for everyone.”
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