ed Historic nomination

Hillary Clinton’s candidacy is inspiring for next generation

Whether or not Hillary Clinton is elected to the White House, the former U.S. secretary of state has already made history by becoming the first female presidential nominee of a major U.S. party.

Clinton describes herself as a “wife, mom, grandma, and women and kids advocate” on her Twitter account. Her legacy as a pioneering politician will peak if she wins in November to become the first female U.S. president. As U.S. first lady Michelle Obama said during the first day of the Democratic National Convention (DNC), Clinton’s win will lead young girls and boys to take for granted that a woman can be U.S. president.

For this to happen, there are many odds Clinton must overcome, including the Donald Trump frenzy. A series of recent surveys put her behind Trump. A CNN poll showed Trump had 48 percent of support, 3 percentage points ahead of Clinton. A Los Angeles Times survey also put Trump’s rating at 45 percent to Clinton’s 41 percent.

The true star of the Democratic Party during the primary season has been Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, whose “political revolution” failed to clinch his party’s nomination but still inspired people not just in the U.S. but also here in Korea. But in the end, Clinton earned the Democratic nomination that she lost to President Barack Obama in 2008. This in itself is a story of resilience and perseverance.

The Democratic Party made a good choice by nominating Clinton to represent it in the presidential election in November. The poise Clinton has displayed through the primary season, particularly against verbal attacks from her Republican Party rival Donald Trump, shows that she has the character to lead. The depth of knowledge on international affairs accumulated from her service in the Senate and leading the State Department equipped her with an advantage over Senator Sanders as well as her GOP counterpart. Coupled with her time as first lady alongside her husband and 42nd U.S. President Bill Clinton, she has a wealth of experience in public service which is one of her greatest assets as presidential candidate.

But despite these unique strengths, it cannot be denied that Clinton has an uphill battle against Trump’s energetic campaign. The DNC was all in all a dull event, even with speeches by an illustrious line-up, including the popular first lady, Vice President Joe Biden and former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, among others. Their common message was that Clinton is the trustworthy and reliable candidate. But that kind of message does not penetrate into voters who want real change from the status quo. The swift success Trump has had as a politician has thrived on the frustration and anger of middle class Americans. The first-ever first lady to serve in the U.S. cabinet has also lost credibility among voters for her email scandal.

The U.S. election occurs at a time of difficulty and uncertainty around the world. Korea will be keenly watching the outcome of the White House race to prepare for new U.S. leadership. Whoever wins, we hope that the next U.S. president will be an effective communicator who is willing to respect and listen to its allies.