Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago on Monday to make the case for electing Kamala Harris as the nation's first female president.
According to The Washington Times and The New York Times, Clinton and Harris have developed a close friendship in recent years and are working together to help Harris secure the Democratic nomination.
"She has been an incredible partner to Vice President Harris," DNC Chair Minyon Moore told The Washington Times. "They have a great friendship. You know, they're on speed dial with each other."
The two women, who were once rivals during the 2008 Democratic primary, have bonded over shared experiences as high-profile female politicians.
Over the summer, as some Democrats questioned President Biden's decision to seek re-election, Hillary Clinton remained publicly neutral, not wanting to be involved in efforts to replace him.
However, sources familiar with her thoughts reveal that she was clear about her stance privately: if Biden were to withdraw, she believed Kamala Harris should be nominated by the Democratic Party immediately, avoiding a prolonged primary battle.
The Clintons were among the first major party figures to endorse Harris after President Biden withdrew from the race in July. Hillary Clinton has been advising the Vice President on key decisions, such as her running mate selection, and providing support during Harris' historic run.
At the DNC on Monday, Clinton is expected to reflect on her own groundbreaking 2016 campaign as the first female presidential nominee of a major party. While she won the popular vote, Clinton ultimately lost the Electoral College to Donald Trump.
"She will probably talk a lot about what it means at this moment to have the second female, and a female of color, running, but what our responsibility is to that as well," Moore said. "We are trying to change and shift the mindset of people to see a woman of color as commander in chief, and Hillary Clinton has served as secretary of state and as our first nominee. So, she has a world view on this."
Clinton's speech will aim to rally voters behind Harris and generate enthusiasm for electing the first woman and first Black woman as president. Her address will be part of a program paying tribute to the Biden-Harris administration's accomplishments.
For Clinton, who came so close to shattering the ultimate glass ceiling herself, Monday's convention speech represents a poignant passing of the torch to the woman she hopes will achieve that historic milestone.
While seeing another woman potentially achieve what she could not is sure to be bittersweet, those close to Clinton say she feels great pride in helping Harris and continuing to advance female leadership at the highest levels of American politics. With her full-throated endorsement and counsel, Clinton is determined to do everything she can to help Harris cross the finish line.
In conclusion, Hillary Clinton's prominent convention speaking slot and the strong backing of Kamala Harris demonstrates the powerful alliance between the two trailblazing women. As Harris seeks to make history as the first female president, she will have one of the Democratic Party's most iconic and influential figures firmly in her corner. Clinton's support provided a major boost as Harris looked to unite the party and win the White House in November.
