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Hillary Clinton Claims the Democratic Nomination Hillary Clinton Claims the Democratic Nomination
(about 1 hour later)
Hillary Clinton claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday night with a crushing victory in the New Jersey primary, and quickly appealed to supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to unite with her against Donald J. Trump. Hillary Clinton claimed the Democratic presidential nomination on Tuesday night after decisive victories in the New Jersey and New Mexico primaries, and quickly appealed to supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont to unite with her against Donald J. Trump.
Delivering an evocative speech woven with references to trailblazing women, Mrs. Clinton pledged to build on the achievements of pioneers like the 19th-century leaders at Seneca Falls, N.Y., who began the fight for women’s rights in America. At a victory rally in Brooklyn, Mrs. Clinton took the stage with her hands clasped over her heart in gratitude, then threw open her arms in joy and savored a long moment as a jubilant crowd waved American flags and chanted “Hillary.”
She took the stage with her hands clasped over her heart in gratitude, threw her arms open in joy and savored a long moment as a jubilant crowd waved American flags and chanted “Hillary.” “Tonight caps an amazing journey — a long, long journey,” Mrs. Clinton said. “We all owe so much to those who came before, and tonight belongs to all of you.” Reaching for history as she became the first woman to win a major party’s nomination, Mrs. Clinton pledged to build on the achievements of pioneers like the 19th-century leaders at Seneca Falls, N.Y., who began the movement for women’s rights in America.
She praised Mr. Sanders and his passionate supporters, saying that “vigorous debate” had been “very good for the Democratic Party and America.” “Tonight caps an amazing journey — a long, long journey,” Mrs. Clinton said, nearly a century after women won the right to vote nationwide. “We all owe so much to those who came before, and tonight belongs to all of you.”
Mr. Sanders made plans to lay off most of his campaign staff, yet he appeared reluctant to let go completely after months of political warfare against a Clinton machine that he holds in thinly veiled contempt. With six states voting on Tuesday, Mr. Sanders was holding out hope for a huge upset in the California primary to justify staying in the race and lobbying Democratic officials to support him in a contested convention next month. She also lavished praise on Mr. Sanders, saying that their “vigorous debate” had been “very good for the Democratic Party and America.”
Mr. Sanders won the North Dakota caucuses on Tuesday; Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota also held Democratic contests. Republicans voted in several states, although Mr. Trump became the presumptive nominee in early May. With six states voting on Tuesday, Mr. Sanders was holding out hope for a huge upset in the California primary to justify staying in the race and lobbying Democratic officials to support him in a contested convention next month.
Though Mr. Sanders made plans to lay off much of his campaign staff, he appeared reluctant to let go completely after months of political warfare against a Clinton machine that he holds in thinly veiled contempt.
As Mrs. Clinton sought to turn her attention to the general election, Mr. Trump, who had a weekslong head start, was busy reckoning with problems of his own making. His criticism of a federal judge, Gonzalo P. Curiel, for the judge’s Mexican heritage continued to inflict damage on his campaign, as the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, called Mr. Trump’s remarks racist and other Republicans piled on. One Republican senator rescinded his support.As Mrs. Clinton sought to turn her attention to the general election, Mr. Trump, who had a weekslong head start, was busy reckoning with problems of his own making. His criticism of a federal judge, Gonzalo P. Curiel, for the judge’s Mexican heritage continued to inflict damage on his campaign, as the House speaker, Paul D. Ryan, called Mr. Trump’s remarks racist and other Republicans piled on. One Republican senator rescinded his support.
Mr. Trump, speaking in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., pledged to make Republicans “proud of our party and our movement,” though he did not try to defuse the controversy. Instead, reading carefully from a teleprompter, he mounted a lengthy attack on Mrs. Clinton’s record, saying she had “turned the State Department into her private hedge fund.” He explicitly reached out to Sanders supporters, who he said had been “left out in the cold by a rigged system.” Mr. Trump, speaking in Briarcliff Manor, N.Y., pledged to make Republicans “proud of our party and our movement,” though he did not try to defuse the controversy. Instead, reading carefully from a teleprompter, he mounted a lengthy attack on Mrs. Clinton’s record, saying she had “turned the State Department into her private hedge fund.” And he teased a speech, “on probably Monday of next week,” that he said would delve into “all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons.”
“We can’t solve our problems by counting on the politicians who created our problems,” Mr. Trump said. “The Clintons have turned the politics of personal enrichment into an art form for themselves.” Mr. Trump explicitly reached out to Sanders supporters, who he said had been “left out in the cold by a rigged system.”
Although Tuesday had promised to be a watershed moment in the nation’s political history, it proved anticlimactic after The Associated Press reported Monday night that Mrs. Clinton had secured enough delegates to clinch the party’s nomination. But she stuck to her plan to use a victory rally Tuesday night in Brooklyn to celebrate her achievement — becoming the first woman to win a major party’s nomination — with some of the same New York Democrats who helped her win a Senate seat in 2000, beginning her career in elected office. “We can’t solve our problems by counting on the politicians who created our problems,” he said. “The Clintons have turned the politics of personal enrichment into an art form for themselves.”
The unexpected news set off conversations Tuesday within the two campaigns, with Clinton representatives preparing to make overtures to the Sanders camp as early as Wednesday. Mrs. Clinton returned fire at Mr. Trump in her remarks, charging that he “wants to win by stoking fear and rubbing salt into wounds.”
Yet she avoided the sort of slashing attacks and ridicule that she used to great effect in her indictment of Mr. Trump and his temperament last week. Scarcely raising her voice on Tuesday, Mrs. Clinton again looked to the example of an influential woman, this time tenderly invoking her mother.
“She told me to never back down from a bully, which it turns out was pretty good advice,” she said.
Although Tuesday had promised to be a watershed moment in the nation’s political history, it proved anticlimactic after The Associated Press reported Monday night that Mrs. Clinton had secured enough delegates to clinch the party’s nomination. But she stuck to her plan to use her rally, at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, to celebrate her achievement with some of the same New York Democrats who helped her win a Senate seat in 2000, beginning her career in elected office.
The unexpected news on Monday set off conversations within the two campaigns, with Clinton representatives preparing to make overtures to the Sanders camp as early as Wednesday.
Sanders advisers were on edge over the declaration that Mrs. Clinton had locked up the nomination, worried that it would depress voter turnout in California. And Mr. Sanders told NBC on Tuesday evening that he was “upset” and “disappointed” that The A.P. had made its call based on a survey of superdelegates, party officials who can shift their allegiances as late as the convention.Sanders advisers were on edge over the declaration that Mrs. Clinton had locked up the nomination, worried that it would depress voter turnout in California. And Mr. Sanders told NBC on Tuesday evening that he was “upset” and “disappointed” that The A.P. had made its call based on a survey of superdelegates, party officials who can shift their allegiances as late as the convention.
Mr. Sanders said that his aides were “on the phone right now” with superdelegates, including those supporting Mrs. Clinton.Mr. Sanders said that his aides were “on the phone right now” with superdelegates, including those supporting Mrs. Clinton.
“Defying history is what this campaign has been about,” he said of his bid, which was initially seen as a long shot. “I am going to be meeting with our supporters to figure out the best way forward so that we have a government which represents all of us, and not just the 1 percent.”“Defying history is what this campaign has been about,” he said of his bid, which was initially seen as a long shot. “I am going to be meeting with our supporters to figure out the best way forward so that we have a government which represents all of us, and not just the 1 percent.”
His campaign also emailed supporters late Tuesday asking them to commit to vote for him in the final Democratic primary, in the District of Columbia next Tuesday, suggesting that Mr. Sanders was not calling it quits just yet.His campaign also emailed supporters late Tuesday asking them to commit to vote for him in the final Democratic primary, in the District of Columbia next Tuesday, suggesting that Mr. Sanders was not calling it quits just yet.
Still, Mr. Sanders planned to let go a large number of workers on Wednesday, according to current and former aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Still, he planned to let go a large number of workers on Wednesday, according to current and former aides who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Representatives of the Sanders and Clinton campaigns have been talking in recent days about the future of the race and about policy priorities for the party’s convention platform in July, according to two Democrats close to the candidates. So far, the discussions have not included the possibility that Mr. Sanders will concede to Mrs. Clinton or endorse her, the Democrats said, but the groundwork has been laid for an eventual conversation or meeting.Representatives of the Sanders and Clinton campaigns have been talking in recent days about the future of the race and about policy priorities for the party’s convention platform in July, according to two Democrats close to the candidates. So far, the discussions have not included the possibility that Mr. Sanders will concede to Mrs. Clinton or endorse her, the Democrats said, but the groundwork has been laid for an eventual conversation or meeting.
John D. Podesta, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign chairman, told CNN Tuesday that she and Mr. Sanders had not spoken recently but that they had “time to work things out,” arguing that their policy differences were far narrower than those between Democrats and Mr. Trump. He sidestepped two questions about whether Mrs. Clinton would consider picking Mr. Sanders as her running mate, saying no decisions had been made.John D. Podesta, Mrs. Clinton’s campaign chairman, told CNN Tuesday that she and Mr. Sanders had not spoken recently but that they had “time to work things out,” arguing that their policy differences were far narrower than those between Democrats and Mr. Trump. He sidestepped two questions about whether Mrs. Clinton would consider picking Mr. Sanders as her running mate, saying no decisions had been made.
Several advisers to Mr. Sanders said Tuesday that he had not been inviting opinions or holding meetings about whether to withdraw from the race, nor had he sketched out a speech announcing the suspension of his campaign. They said he had been wholly focused on winning the California primary in hopes that a victory in such a politically important state would help him lobby superdelegates to shift their support.Several advisers to Mr. Sanders said Tuesday that he had not been inviting opinions or holding meetings about whether to withdraw from the race, nor had he sketched out a speech announcing the suspension of his campaign. They said he had been wholly focused on winning the California primary in hopes that a victory in such a politically important state would help him lobby superdelegates to shift their support.
“Moving a lot of superdelegates into our column will require a big campaign of persuasion, a nationwide logistical effort, but we believe we have a strong case to make to them — especially if we do very well in Tuesday’s primaries,” said Tad Devine, a senior adviser to Mr. Sanders.“Moving a lot of superdelegates into our column will require a big campaign of persuasion, a nationwide logistical effort, but we believe we have a strong case to make to them — especially if we do very well in Tuesday’s primaries,” said Tad Devine, a senior adviser to Mr. Sanders.
Mr. Devine declined to discuss whether Mr. Sanders had heard from any emissaries of the Clinton campaign, like Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, with whom Mr. Sanders has a good relationship and speaks periodically. (Mr. Schumer, reached by phone, declined to say whether he had spoken to Mr. Sanders recently.)Mr. Devine declined to discuss whether Mr. Sanders had heard from any emissaries of the Clinton campaign, like Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, with whom Mr. Sanders has a good relationship and speaks periodically. (Mr. Schumer, reached by phone, declined to say whether he had spoken to Mr. Sanders recently.)
Other campaign advisers said they expected Mr. Sanders to consider his options during his flight from California to Vermont on Wednesday. One recalled that Mrs. Clinton did much the same when she found herself in a similar situation eight years ago.Other campaign advisers said they expected Mr. Sanders to consider his options during his flight from California to Vermont on Wednesday. One recalled that Mrs. Clinton did much the same when she found herself in a similar situation eight years ago.
The day after Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination in June 2008, Mrs. Clinton huddled with her advisers and debated whether to hold on to her delegates and try to force a contested convention. She decided to endorse Mr. Obama instead. The two had a tense but productive private meeting that Thursday night, and two days later she delivered a speech thanking her supporters and urging them to unite around the party’s presumptive nominee, regardless of their disappointment and even bitterness over her defeat.The day after Barack Obama clinched the Democratic nomination in June 2008, Mrs. Clinton huddled with her advisers and debated whether to hold on to her delegates and try to force a contested convention. She decided to endorse Mr. Obama instead. The two had a tense but productive private meeting that Thursday night, and two days later she delivered a speech thanking her supporters and urging them to unite around the party’s presumptive nominee, regardless of their disappointment and even bitterness over her defeat.
Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said Tuesday that they were eager to talk to the Sanders campaign about ways to unite the party behind her, but that they were inclined to wait to hear from Mr. Sanders rather than try to force the issue. About 10 million people had voted for Mr. Sanders before Tuesday’s contests, and as many as one in four of his supporters, according to some polls, have said they would not vote for Mrs. Clinton in the general election.Mrs. Clinton’s advisers said Tuesday that they were eager to talk to the Sanders campaign about ways to unite the party behind her, but that they were inclined to wait to hear from Mr. Sanders rather than try to force the issue. About 10 million people had voted for Mr. Sanders before Tuesday’s contests, and as many as one in four of his supporters, according to some polls, have said they would not vote for Mrs. Clinton in the general election.
If Mrs. Clinton is beginning the general election with many Sanders supporters incensed at her, Mr. Trump is in the midst of his own self-made crisis. He is forcing Republicans to confront a painful choice: Embrace his brand of racial politics, one that could taint the party’s image well beyond this election, or abandon their presumptive nominee and hand the White House to the Democrats for another four years.
Already uneasy about Mr. Trump’s hard-edged style of populism, leading Republicans were pushed to the breaking point over his claims that Judge Curiel could not rule fairly in a lawsuit against him because the judge is Mexican-American.
Those comments prompted Senator Mark S. Kirk of Illinois, who is up for re-election, to come out against Mr. Trump on Tuesday. Mr. Ryan, the House speaker, called Mr. Trump’s remark “the textbook definition of a racist comment.”
Mr. Trump bowed to those pleas to a degree Tuesday afternoon, issuing a statement in which he reversed his assertion that Judge Curiel’s ethnicity made him inherently biased and vowed not to discuss the case further.
The resistance of many of Mr. Sanders’s supporters to Mrs. Clinton is likely to soften somewhat once Mr. Sanders leaves the race, and especially if he endorses her. But Clinton advisers and allies say they will need his help to bring around the many younger voters and liberals who overwhelmingly prefer him.The resistance of many of Mr. Sanders’s supporters to Mrs. Clinton is likely to soften somewhat once Mr. Sanders leaves the race, and especially if he endorses her. But Clinton advisers and allies say they will need his help to bring around the many younger voters and liberals who overwhelmingly prefer him.
Yet her allies also predicted that many Sanders supporters would be attracted to the historic achievement of a woman earning a major party’s nomination. If Mrs. Clinton is beginning the general election with many Sanders supporters incensed at her, Mr. Trump is in the midst of his own self-made crisis. He is forcing Republicans to confront a painful choice: Embrace his brand of racial politics, one that could taint the party’s image well beyond this election, or abandon their presumptive nominee and hand the White House to the Democrats for another four years.
But Mrs. Clinton’s supporters, pointing both to the threat from Mr. Trump and to her chance at making history, predicted that she would have an easier time bringing her party together than Mr. Trump would his.
“I think that will sink in over the next few weeks and months and will go a long way to helping unite the party,” Mr. Schumer said. “I was on the bike this morning and saw on TV that Monday night, Hillary had won the nomination, and I got teary-eyed. From a 10,000-foot perspective, it’s an amazing accomplishment.”“I think that will sink in over the next few weeks and months and will go a long way to helping unite the party,” Mr. Schumer said. “I was on the bike this morning and saw on TV that Monday night, Hillary had won the nomination, and I got teary-eyed. From a 10,000-foot perspective, it’s an amazing accomplishment.”