Will Hillary Clinton become US first female Commander in Chief?
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PHILADELPHIA (APP) - Hillary Clinton made history Tuesday by becoming the first woman to win the presidential nomination of a major US political party, securing the backing of Democrats at a rowdy convention in Philadelphia.
The former first lady, senator and secretary of state took a monumental step on her quest to become America's first female commander-in-chief, by besting party challenger Bernie Sanders.
After a tumultuous convention opening which saw Sanders and Clinton supporters trade jeers and chants, cheers erupted as Clinton passed the 2,382-delegate threshold needed for the nomination, setting up a showdown with Republican Donald Trump in November.
"History," said a post on her Twitter account.
Although the outcome was virtually a foregone conclusion, the state-by-state vote saw rowdy displays on the convention floor.
A handful of diehard Sanders delegates fumed over their candidate's defeat, but they were drowned out by ecstatic Clinton supporters. Several wept and embraced.
After his delegates had been counted, Sanders took the floor in a bid to unify the party.
"I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States," he said to deafening cheers and finally a chorus of "ayes."
Delegates thrust placards in the air, forming a mosaic of "H's" across the arena.
