On Wednesday, Hillary Clinton publicly ended her 2016 campaign with a speech in New York City.
Her words followed an emotional speech by her running mate, Tim Kaine, who quoted Faulkner and the Bible, and said that he was proud of her accomplishment.
“She has made history in a nation that is good at so many things, but that has made it uniquely difficult for a woman to be elected to federal office,” said Kaine, choking up at times. “She became the first major party nominee as a woman to be president and last night, won the popular vote of Americans.”
Clinton, taking the stage, apologized for not delivering a victory.
“This is not the outcome we wanted or we worked so hard for, and I’m sorry that we did not win this election for the values we share and the vision we hold for our country,” she said.
“This is painful and it will be for a long time, but I want you to remember this. Our campaign was never about one person or even one election. It was about the country we love and about building an America that’s hopeful, inclusive and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought, but I still believe in America and I always will.”
Clinton urged her audience — both the supporters in the room and supporters across the country — to accept the results of the election and to view President-Elect Donald Trump with an open mind, saying that the peaceful transfer of power was not just something to be proud of, but something that is “cherished.”
And she urged her supporters to go on, and to continue working towards an America where “the American dream is big enough for everyone, for people of all races and religions, for men and women, for immigrants, for LGBT people and for people with disabilities. For everyone.”
Yet while Clinton spoke of the future, expressing her conviction that her supporters would continue to work towards a better America, and urging those in the audience who were just beginning their careers to have strength in the face of setbacks, her overall focus seemed to be on passing the torch.
Speaking of her own public career, Clinton spoke only in past tense. And, speaking to America’s women, Clinton touched on the historic nature of her candidacy, and encouraged little girls to dream big and have faith.
“To all the women and especially the young women who put their faith in this campaign and in me, I want you to know that nothing has made me prouder than to be your champion,” she said, expressing her hope that though “that highest and hardest glass ceiling” was still intact, it might be shattered soon.
“To all the little girl whose are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and achieve your own dreams.”
Throughout her speech, Clinton’s rhetoric was emotional, but her demeanor was strong and steady. On CNN, however, commentators described her speech as “very, very emotional.”
“You saw her holding back, choking back those tears. She is well known as being very, very emotional on these kinds of moments,” said Blitzer of Clinton, whose composure on stage was far stronger than either of the men flanking her, Tim Kaine and her husband, former President Bill Clinton.
After concluding her speech, in New York Clinton left the stage after the speech to mingle with the crowd, some of whom were wiping away tears even before she took the stage. The candidate greeted supporters with smiles and hugs.