Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday officially accepted the Democratic presidential nomination for the U.S. elections scheduled on Nov. 8 promising to "be a President for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents... For those who vote for me and those who don't. For all Americans."
Clinton became the first woman to accept a major political party's presidential nomination, and attacked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump for sowing seeds of fear in Americans and wanting to "divide us - from the rest of the world, and from each other."
She took to stage at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia amid loud cheers and embraced her daughter Chelsea Clinton.
"We are clear-eyed about what our country is up against. But we are not afraid. We will rise to the challenge, just as we always have... When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit," she said.
Clinton also reached out to the supporters of Bernie Sanders: "I want you to know, I've heard you. Your cause is our cause. Our country needs your ideas, energy, and passion. That's the only way we can turn our progressive platform into real change for America."
Taking a dig at Trump, the former secretary of state said: "He's betting that the perils of today's world will blind us to its unlimited promise. He's taken the Republican Party a long way... from 'Morning in America' to 'Midnight in America.' He wants us to fear the future and fear each other."
Clinton also turned one of Republican Ronald Reagan's famous phrases against Trump: "Well, a great Democratic President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, came up with the perfect rebuke to Trump more than eighty years ago, during a much more perilous time. 'The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.'"
She mocked the real estate developer's claim that he alone can "fix" the country: "Those were actually Donald Trump's words in Cleveland. And they should set off alarm bells for all of us. Really? I alone can fix it?... He's forgetting every last one of us. Americans don't say: 'I alone can fix it.' We say: 'We'll fix it together.'"
Clinton said that America was at a "moment of reckoning" and rejected Trump's ideas which are only focused on dividing the country. She presented herself as a determined and patriotic American who would tirelessly work for the American citizens and fight against terrorism, gun violence and economic crisis.
She also acknowledged that some people still don't know her.
The truth is, through all these years of public service, the "service" part has always come easier to me than the "public" part. I get it that some people just don't know what to make of me. So let me tell you," Clinton said, "The family I'm from . . . well, no one had their name on big buildings. My family were builders of a different kind. They used whatever... God gave them... and built better lives and better futures for their kids."
Referring to her passion for government policy, the former first lady said: "I sweat the details of policy... Because it's not just a detail if it's your kid — if it's your family. It's a big deal. And it should be a big deal to your president."
Clinton concluded her speech urging Americans to be "stronger together."
"Let's look to the future with courage and confidence. Let's build a better tomorrow for our beloved children and our beloved country. And when we do, America will be greater than ever," she said.
