Hillary: "Harris Has Sufficient Competence... Will Break the Glass Ceiling"

"We will together crack the highest, hardest, and last (glass) ceiling. On the other side of the glass ceiling, Kamala Harris will raise her hand and take the (presidential) oath of office."

On the first day of the U.S. Democratic National Convention (DNC) on the 19th (local time), former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, speaking as a speaker, strongly expressed her support that Vice President Kamala Harris, who is challenging to become the first female president of the U.S. after her, can break the glass ceiling.

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

In her speech at the Democratic National Convention held at the United Center in Chicago that evening, former Secretary Clinton said, "As president, she (Kamala Harris) will always have our backs. She will be a fighter who fights for us."

Having challenged to become the first female president in 2016 but lost to Republican former President Donald Trump, she mentioned that Vice President Harris is the second female presidential candidate in Democratic Party history and added, "You can feel that something is happening in America."

Dressed in white tones to pay tribute to women’s suffrage activists and standing at the podium, she said, "The moment the glass ceiling breaks for one of us, a path opens for all of us," and added, "So for the remaining 78 days, we must work harder than ever. We must defeat Trump and his forces who threaten the rule of law and our lives." She also added, "Progress is possible but never given. It must be won."

Former Secretary Clinton also highlighted Vice President Harris’s past work as a legal professional helping children suffering from abuse and neglect, arguing that she has sufficient capability and character as the next president. She emphasized, "Harris will fight to lower the cost of living for hardworking families," and "She will create good-paying quality jobs and restore abortion rights nationwide."

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

On the other hand, regarding Republican presidential candidate former President Trump, she strongly criticized him as "the first person to run for president despite being convicted of 34 felony counts." She mentioned that during the 2016 presidential election, Trump made false claims and mockery against her, saying, "It sounds familiar to me."

In particular, former Secretary Clinton emphasized the dynamic of 'Criminal Trump vs. Prosecutor Harris.' She said, "Harris, as a prosecutor, arrested murderers and drug traffickers," and "She will never rest in protecting our freedom and safety." At this, the crowd shouted slogans like "Lock him up."

Former Secretary Clinton said, "On the first day Harris appeared in court, she said 'for the people,' which still guides her today," and pointed out, "Trump can never understand those words." She also noted that "She will never send a 'love letter' to a dictator," referring to former President Trump’s close relationship with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un during his term.

That day, former Secretary Clinton concluded her speech with the words, "The future is here in our hands. Let’s go and win." Much of her speech focused on the metaphor of the glass ceiling as someone who has challenged the presidency as a woman. Major foreign media reported that some female supporters were moved to tears by the atmosphere. Earlier, in a New York Times (NYT) op-ed last month, former Secretary Clinton also highly praised Vice President Harris as a prepared candidate who can break the 'glass ceiling' she could not break.

The Democratic Party will officially nominate Vice President Harris and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, as presidential and vice-presidential candidates, respectively, through the four-day convention starting that day. Given that Vice President Harris has recently shown an advantage over former President Trump in various polls, the Democratic Party plans to use this convention as a stepping stone for victory in the November presidential election.

The theme of the convention that day is "For the People." Following former Secretary Clinton, U.S. President Joe Biden will take the stage as the prime-time speaker. Vice President Harris, who appeared on site before Clinton’s speech, expressed gratitude to President Biden, saying, "This week will be a really good week."

On the following day, the 20th, former President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama, whose political hometown is Chicago, will speak. On the third day, Governor Walz, the vice-presidential candidate, will speak, and on the last day, Vice President Harris is scheduled to deliver her acceptance speech.