Hillary writes history, clears first hurdle to succeed Obama

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton arrives on stage for a rally at Long Beach City College on the final day of California campaigning, June 6, 2016 in Long Beach, California. Hillary Clinton has received commitments from enough delegates to clinch the Democratic presidential nomination, according to the Associated Press and US networks, ensuring she will be the first woman to lead a major US party in the race for the White House. / AFP PHOTO /

When Hillary Clinton, the presumptive nominee of the US Democratic Party, clinches the ticket, it will be a hopeful run to the US presidency for Kenya, where her husband, through the Clinton Foundation, runs dozens of health programmes.

The former First Lady now faces Donald Trump of the Republican Party in a fierce political battle.

Hillary hit the 2,383 delegates needed to become the party’s nominee, making her the first woman to ever become  the presidential candidate of a major political party in the country’s history ahead of the November 8 elections.

Hillary was in Kenya in August 2012 when she served as secretary of state in current US President Barack Obama’s administration. Her husband, together with their daughter Chelsea, were in Kenya last year, just weeks before President Obama visited.

The presence of Hillary in the White House, who lived there as a former First Lady at a time when her husband Bill Clinton splashed the African continent with friendly policies, portends more friendly policies for Kenya and Africa.

KENYAN HERITAGE

Besides, she will be serving after President Obama, who has Kenyan heritage and has strong family ties to Kenya. Obama was in Kenya last July where he signed deals with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Unlike the Republican nominee Donald Trump, who “wants to make America great again”, and who has a public loathing for migrants, Kenya and Africa will be looking forward to having another Clinton in the White House.

History already in hand, Hillary will celebrate becoming the first woman to lead a major American political party yesterday following votes in California, New Jersey and four other states — contests she hopes send her into the general election in strong standing.

Hillary reached the 2,383 delegates needed to become the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee on the eve of yesterday’s voting, according to an Associated Press tally.

Her total is comprised of pledged delegates won in primaries and caucuses, as well as superdelegates; the party officials and officeholders who can back a candidate of their choosing.

Hillary greeted news of her achievement with a measured response, wary of depressing turnout and eager to save the revelry for a big victory party yesterday night in Brooklyn.

During a campaign stop in California, Hillary told a cheering crowd she was on the brink of a “historic, unprecedented moment”, but said there was still work to do in her unexpectedly heated primary battle with Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders.

“We’re going to fight hard for every single vote,” Clinton declared.

Heading into yesterday’s voting, Clinton had1,812 pledged delegates and the support of 571 of the 714 superdelegates, according to the AP count.

During a rally Monday evening in San Francisco, Sanders said a victory in California would give him “enormous momentum” in his bid to push the Democratic primary to a convention fight.

Sanders is urging superdelegates to drop their support for Clinton before the gathering in Philadelphia, arguing he is a stronger candidate to take on presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump.

But Sanders has so far been unable to sway the superdelegates, and there were signs Monday that he was taking stock of his standing in the race. Speaking to reporters, Sanders said he planned to return to Vermont today and “assess where we are” following the California results.

STAYED OUT

The senator’s comments came on the heels of a weekend phone call with President Barack Obama, who has stayed out of the Democratic primary to date but is poised to endorse Clinton as early as this week.

“The president intends certainly through the fall, if not earlier, to engage in this campaign,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said. “That’s an opportunity the president relishes.”

Obama and Clinton battled ferociously for the Democratic nomination in 2008. Tuesday marks eight years to the day Clinton conceded to Obama in an emotional speech where she noted she was unable to “shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling”.

The former secretary of state reflected on breaking that barrier as she made her final swing through California on Monday, and she is expected to do so again on Tuesday night in New York.

“It’s really emotional,” Clinton said. “I’m someone who has been very touched and really encouraged by this extraordinary conviction that people have.”

Glenda McCarthy, a 64-year-old from San Pedro, California, is among the loyal Clinton supporters who have longed for this milestone moment.

“I’ve been waiting for this for so long,” McCarthy said. “Not just a woman, but a woman who is so strong.”

Clinton’s victory is broadly decisive. She leads Sanders by more than three million cast votes, by 291 pledged delegates and by 523 superdelegates.

She won 29 caucuses and primaries in states and US territories to his 21 victories. Clinton has been eager to move past the protracted primary and fully turn her attention to her general election battle with Trump.

 

She energised Democrats with a blistering speech last week challenging Trump’s qualifications for the presidency.

Trump vanquished his remaining Republican rivals about a month ago, a stunning achievement for the untested political candidate. Despite his controversial statements about minorities and vague policy proposals, Republicans consolidated around his nomination.

But Trump has continued to irritate GOP officials, including with his recent criticism of a US district court judge. Trump has said Judge Gonzalo Curiel cannot be impartial in a legal case involving him because his parents were born in Mexico and Trump wants to build a wall along the border.

New Jersey and California were the biggest prizes up for grabs yesterday, with Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota also holding contests. The final Democratic primary will be held next week in the District of Columbia.