Clinton's former rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, told the chairwoman from the Democratic convention floor that Clinton should be selected the party's nominee after a state-by-state roll call at the Philadelphia convention. "I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States," Sanders told thousands of delegates.
Delegates from South Dakota had given Clinton 15 votes before the announcement, ensuring that she had more than the 2,383 votes required to win the nomination. This brought her up to a total of 2,842 against to Sanders' 1,865.
A day before the convention, however, the party suffered a major setback after a trove of hacked emails revealed that its staffers tried to undermine the campaign of Clinton rival Bernie Sanders. Sanders was not considered a major contender when he first started campaigning, but later gained in grassroots support, posing a serious threat to Clinton's candidacy. The chairperson of the Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz was forced to resign after the emails surfaced, leading Republicans to cash in on the apparent disarray within the party.
Clinton, a former US secretary of state had been endorsed by Sanders last month, when he promised to work with her to ensure that their Republican rival Donald Trump does not make it to the White House. President Barack Obama also endorsed Clinton earlier this month, calling her the most qualified candidate ever to seek the position and imploring Democrats to unite behind her.
Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg will reportedly do the same this week. The independent candidate, who quit the race recently, could boost Clinton's efforts to reach independent voters, particularly those most concerned about the economy, reported CNN.
Limited-time offer: Big stories, small price. Keep independent media alive. Become a Scroll member today!
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!