Hillary Clinton: The Star of Both Conventions

Donald Trump Jr. on Thursday accused President Obama of plagiarizing him in Obama’s keynote speech Wednesday night at the Democratic National Convention.

CNN reported on Friday that Clinton’s acceptance speech was watched by roughly 28 million viewers, which is two million fewer than watched Trump’s acceptance speech in Cleveland one week ago. “Are we going to succumb to some powerful forces that are tearing at our social fabric or are we going to come together to solve these problems … to build a nation that works for everyone?”

And a third group of voters will also be watching: conservatives and independents who are wary of Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, and might be willing to consider crossing party lines to stop Trump from winning the presidency.

On Monday, the First Lady electrified the audience with a brief but deeply personal speech that heaped praise on Clinton and poured scorn on her rival. And you know what?

“You have sacrificed nothing, and no one!” he said.

“Donald Trump can’t even handle the rough-and-tumble of a presidential campaign. And I do mean odd”, she with a mischievous twinkle.

Clinton referenced the historic nature of her candidacy, saying “when any barrier falls in America, it clears the way for everyone”. “When there are no ceilings, the sky’s the limit”.

It was a passionate speech – especially from someone who admits she is not a natural politician.

The line-up of speakers on the final day of the convention includes Doug Elmets, a former Reagan administration official and Jennifer Pierotti Lim, a co-founder of Republican Women for Hillary. “There are times when I disagree with Hillary”, he said.

However, some like Oscar-winner Meryl Streep have pointed out that Clinton has walked through fire to get her party’s nomination. “What does it take to be the first anything?” said Meryl Streep in her remarks from the podium on Tuesday night. “Grit and grace for over 40 years”.

In short, Clinton will face pressure to be many things to many people, all while finding a way to acknowledge her trust issues with voters – and her place in USA history as the first woman to lead a Democratic or Republican presidential ticket. For months, the Clinton campaign has actively courted moderate Republicans and conservatives.

The Trumps apparently still haven’t gotten over Melania Trump’s plagiarism of Michelle Obama from last week’s GOP convention and how it stole much of the spotlight from Donald Trump Sr. “We obviously welcome everyone who wants to be a part of a more inclusive campaign that embraces a more inclusive vision of America”, Palmieri, the campaign communications director, told reporters on Thursday.

Clinton said she accepted the nomination with “humility, determination and boundless confidence in America’s promise”.

“He wants us to fear the future and fear each other”. At this point there is nothing new, really, that Clinton can say about Trump’s policy, rhetoric, or career as a real estate developer and television reality star that hasn’t been said already.

The theme was “Stronger Together” as Clinton delivered her speech at the end of a largely successful convention which has begun to mend the split left in the party by her divisive primary against Bernie Sanders. The mood on the convention floor on Thursday was festive and upbeat.