Notwithstanding the embarrassing emails released by WikiLeaks , the DNC has been putting up a mostly united front in Philadelphia.
Barack Obama on Thursday made a powerful endorsement for Hillary Clinton, saying no one, including himself or former President Bill Clinton, was more qualified than her for the job. He also called out "homegrown demagogues" like Republican rival Donald Trump who sell "fear and cynicism". He was speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia that has seen several fiery speeches by a host of Democratic Party leaders and a few celebrities.
Obama, also the first black to have occupied the top post, said he was "ready to pass the baton" to his rival of 2008, as he painted an optimistic picture of an "already great nation". "I can say with confidence there has never been a man or a woman - not me, not Bill (Clinton), nobody - more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as president of the United States of America," Obama said amid deafening cheers from thousands of delegates and guests packed into a sports arena.
Earlier, Hillary's husband Bill Clinton spoke at length about how he met her when they were in a class of political and civil rights in 1971 and went on to illustrate why "she is the best darn change-maker I've ever met in my entire life."
FLOTUS Michelle Obama was also lauded for her powerful speech. "I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. And 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 and all our sons and daughters now take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States."
The Democratic National Convention also saw a star line-up from Sarah Silverman and Meryl Streep, to Lena Dunham, America Ferrera and Eva Longoria who extolled Hillary Clinton and her prowess.
On the fourth and final day of the Convention, Chelsea Clinton in her speech said her mother was a woman "driven by compassion, faith, a fierce sense of justice and a heart full of love."
Before the acceptance speech of her nomination as the first woman presidential candidate by a major political party in the US, a film on Hillary Clinton by award-winning television producers Shonda Rhimes and Betsy Beers was also released at the Democratic National Convention.
Finally, Hillary Clinton took the stage and in a speech that ran for over an hour, she took a dig at Donald Trump, extolled the work of Bernie Sanders, and accepting her Presidential nomination, she said,"In the end, it comes down to what Donald Trump doesn’t get: that America is great – because America is good."
However, the Democratic Party is also fighting fire after embarrassing emails were released by WikiLeaks showing party leaders favouring Clinton over her rival, Senator Bernie Sanders, for the presidential nomination. The committee is supposed to be neutral.
Here is a look at some of the big moments from the Democratic National Convention.
(With Agency Inputs)
1. Barack Obama
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President Barack Obama waves to the crowd after speaking at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
2. Obama expresses full support for Hillary
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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton embraces Barack Obama as she arrives onstage at the end of his speech. "Tonight, I ask you to do for Hillary Clinton what you did for me. I ask you to carry her the same way you carried me," Obama said.
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
3. First lady Michelle Obama
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"Don't let anyone tell you that this country isn't great. This right now is the greatest country on earth," Michelle Obama said while delivering her speech at the DNC, in Philadelphia. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
4. Vice President Joe Biden
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Delegates cheer as US Vice President Joe Biden speaks at the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
5. Eva Longoria
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Speaking of her Mexican-American roots, Eva Longoria delivered a powerful speech against the ideas of Donald Trump on barring Mexicans entry in the US.
"When Donald Trump calls us criminals and rapists, he’s insulting American families. My father is not a criminal or rapist, in fact, he’s a United States veteran," she said.
(Photo courtesy - Twitter)
6. Bernie Sanders
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Former Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Bernie Sanders waves as he acknowledges applause at the Democratic National Convention.
"Our job is to do two things -- to defeat Donald Trump and to elect Hillary Clinton," Sanders said, adding later, "It is easy to boo, but it is harder to look your kids in the face if we are living under a Trump presidency."
(Photo courtesy - PTI)
7. Vice Presidential candidate Tim Kaine
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Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Tim Kaine, D-Va, waves after speaking to delegates during the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
8. Sen Al Franken (L) and comedian Sarah Silverman
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Senator Al Franken from Minnesota and comedian Sarah Silverman speak at the Democratic National Convention.
"This past year, I’ve been feeling the Bern,” she said from the stage, adding, “Relax, I put some cream on it.” Adding to that she said, "I will vote for Hillary with gusto, as I continue to be inspired and moved to action by the ideals set forth by Bernie, who will never stop fighting for us.”
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
9. Lena Dunham (L) and America Ferrera
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Actresses Lena Dunham and America Ferrera speak on stage at the Democratic National Convention.
Taking on Donald Trump head on they said, “Hi, I’m Lena Dunham, and according to Donald Trump, my body is probably like, a 2,” Dunham began.
“And I’m America Ferrera, and according to Donald Trump, I’m probably a rapist,” Ferrera added.
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
10. Meryl Streep
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Actress Meryl Streep speaks at the Democratic National Convention.
"Where do any of our female firsts, our path breakers, where do they find that strength? These women share some common capacity of mindfulness of heart and a burning passion for their cause," she continued. "They have forged new paths so that others can follow them...nearly 100 years after we got the vote, you people have made history. And you're gonna make history again in November because Hillary Clinton will be our first woman president … and she will be the first in a long line of women and men who serve with grit and grace. She'll be the first but she won't be the last."
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
11. Alicia Keys
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Singer Alicia Keys performs during the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
12. Paul Simon
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Singer Paul Simon performs "Bridge Over Troubled Water" during the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
13. Former President Bill Clinton
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Former President Bill Clinton speaks during the second day of the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
14. Mother Orlando victim, Christine Leinonen and survivors
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Christine Leinonen, whose son was killed in the Pulse nightclub attack in Orlando, is flanked by attack survivors Brandon Wolf (L) and Jose Arraigada at the Democratic National Convention.
"Please, let's all just get along," Leinonen said while gasping for breath. "We're on this earth for such a short time. Let's try to get rid of the hatred and the violence, please!"
(Photo courtesy - Reuters)
15. Chelsea Clinton
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Chelsea Clinton introduces her mother Hillary Clinton to accept the Democratic presidential nomination on the fourth and final night at the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
16. Hillary takes the stage
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Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton waves to the crowd as she takes the stage to speak during the fourth day session of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
17. Clinton and Kaine, after acceptance of nomination
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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton waves with her vice presidential running mate Senator Tim Kaine after accepting the nomination on the fourth and final night at the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
18. Chelsea Clinton (2nd L), Bill Clinton (3rd L), Sen Tim Kaine (R)
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Marc Mezvinsky, his wife Chelsea Clinton, Former President Bill Clinton and Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Tim Kaine, applaud as Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speak during the final day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. (Photo courtesy - PTI)
19. The Clintons
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Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton stands with her daughter Chelsea (L), Vice Presidential running mate Senator Tim Kaine (C, rear) and her husband, former President Bill Clinton after accepting the nomination on the final day of the Democratic National Convention. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
20. "Love Trumps Hate"
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Protestors gather outside the Wells Fargo Center on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. They raised their voice against the Trump campaign, some to bring the "Black Lives Matter" under the spotlight and some were there to show their support for Bernie Sanders, who fell out of the Presidential race. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
21. Protest against a divided America
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A man burns a modified American flag amid protests outside the Wells Fargo Center on the third day of the Democratic National Convention in protest. (Photo courtesy - Reuters)
