PHILADELPHIA—Despite a day of infighting, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders did his best to project an appearance of party unity at the Democratic National Convention, giving a full-throated endorsement of presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in a prime-time address.
The populist senator, whose iconoclast campaign won him the support of millions, took to the stage with a familiar message centered around income inequality, campaign finance reform and college affordability. But it all ended with a new refrain: the full support, without reservations, of Clinton.
"Any objective observer will conclude that – based on her ideas and her leadership – Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States," Sanders said. "The choice is not even close."
Sanders made clear that Clinton's concessions on debt-free college and universal health care affected his decision. He also emphasized a platform he called historically progressive.
"It is no secret that Hillary Clinton and I disagree on a number of issues," Sanders said. "That’s what this campaign has been about. That’s what democracy is about. But I am happy to tell you that at the Democratic Platform Committee there was a significant coming together between the two campaigns and we produced, by far, the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party."
The senator's speech was key in an effort to quell dissent among his most ardent supporters. Earlier in the day, some of his delegates booed Sanders in a closed-door speech, angered by his endorsement of Clinton.
Similar scenes played out as the convention got underway. Speakers, ranging from the pastor giving the invocation, to U.S. Rep. Elijiah Cummings, D-Md., were jeered for their support of Clinton, with chants of "Bernie, Bernie" spontaneously breaking out.
The discord was similar to a floor fight which broke out last week at the Republican National Convention between supporters of Republican nominee Donald Trump and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. Unlike last week, however, worries remained that the squabble would extend over into the prime-time session.
But speeches from Sanders and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren appeared to ease the anger. The pro-Sanders chants became less vocal and the booing less prominent as the evening wore on.
Even some members of the Wisconsin delegation, which included a large number of Sanders' supporters after his win in the April 5 primary, grew weary of the interruptions.
"I thought Bernie was the best candidate to defeat Donald Trump and govern with a progressive, populist agenda," Sanders delegate Peter Rickman said. "I view the contest between now and Nov. 8 as continuing the political revolution ... To me there is nothing to be accomplished by sulking or engaging in narcissistic acts of singular protests."
Rickman added that he was focused on continuing the progressive fight championed by Sanders by helping elect Clinton.
"The real political revolutionary picks themselves up, dusts themselves off and says how are we going to organize and what is the next fight. And right now the next fight is electing Hillary Clinton and continuing the political revolution."
First Lady Michelle Obama wows rapt audience
First Lady Michelle Obama reflected on her experience raising two daughters in the White House while also criticizing GOP nominee Donald Trump in a speech that calmed a raucous crowd.
“That is what Barack and I think about every day as we try to guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight,” she said. “How we urge them to ignore those who question their father’s citizenship or faith.”
Trump was famously known for questioning President Barack Obama’s citizenship during previous election cycles.
Michelle, a widely popular figure in all wings of the Democratic Party, spoke highly of Clinton and the historic nature of her nomination.
“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,” she said.
Michelle also called for unity among the party in order to deliver a third Democratic term at the White House.
“So in this election, we cannot sit back and hope that everything works out for the best,” she said. “Between now and November, we need to do what we did eight years ago and four years ago.”
