Michelle Obama backs Hillary Clinton to be first female US president

By David Gardner28 July 2016

Michelle Obama has backed Hillary Clinton to be the US’s first woman president in a rousing speech at the Democratic National Convention.

The First Lady’s emphatic endorsement of Mrs Clinton — heralding her as a role model for her two daughters — calmed jittery nerves at the conference in Philadelphia, amid a crisis that threatened to derail the former secretary of state’s campaign.

The eve of the four-day event had been marred by the leak of emails from party chiefs discussing how to thwart the campaign of Mrs Clinton’s rival Bernie Sanders.

However, after the First Lady spoke, Mr Sanders delivered the full-throated backing for Mrs Clinton that she desperately needs ahead of her presidential election battle with Donald Trump.

Endorsement: Mrs Obama addresses the crowd
REUTERS

In her speech, Mrs Obama condemned the billionaire — but did not name him.

To applause, she declared: “Don’t let anyone tell you that America isn’t great. This right now is the greatest country on earth.”

The First Lady listed the Republican candidate’s actions as examples of things she and Barack Obama have told their daughters not to do.

“Ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith,” she said, adding that she often reminds her children that “hateful language from public figures on TV does not represent the true spirit of this country”.

Applause: Ex-President Bill Clinton listened to the speech
REUTERS/Mike Segar

She added: “In this election there is only one person I trust with that responsibility... Hillary Clinton.

"When you have the nuclear codes at your fingertips and the military at your command, you can’t make snap decisions, you need to be steady.”

Mrs Obama said she woke “every morning in a house built by slaves ... I watch my daughters, two beautiful, intelligent black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.

"And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters — all of our sons and daughters — now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.”

Party leaders will be hoping antagonism between the Clinton and Sanders camps will now be laid to rest.

Delegates in Sanders badges and T-shirts were vociferous in their opposition to Mrs Clinton.

But the Vermont senator said that “based on her ideas and her leadership, Hillary Clinton must become the next president.

“If you don’t believe this election is important... think about the Supreme Court justices Donald Trump would nominate and what that would mean to civil liberties and equal rights.”

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