PHILADELPHIA—Hours of testimonials, urgent pleas and persuasion have led to this. Now, it’s time to hear from Hillary Clinton.
The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state on Thursday will step out of the shadows of presidents past and present for her moment to convince Americans that she is the best choice to helm a nation looking for a new era of leadership.
President Barack Obama anointed her the inheritor of his legacy Wednesday night at the Democratic convention. Delivering a passionate case for his one-time rival, Obama declared Clinton not only can defeat the “deeply pessimistic vision” of Republican Donald Trump but also realize the “promise of this great nation.”
“She’s been there for us, even if we haven’t always noticed,” he said.
Clinton appeared unannounced on the platform soon after to soak up the roar of cheering Democrats. She pointed at the man who denied her the White House eight years ago, smiled wide and gave him a hug.
Summoning his most famous line from that 2008 campaign, Obama said: “If you’re serious about our democracy, you can’t afford to stay home just because she might not align with you on every issue. You’ve got to get in the arena with her, because democracy isn’t a spectator sport. America isn’t about ‘Yes he will.’ It’s about ‘Yes we can.’”
