Navigate to News section

Clinton Showcases the Seeds for Success and the Potential for Failure

In her acceptance speech, Hillary Clinton laid the foundation for a broad-based presidential coalition. But she also risked trying to be all things to all people, and coming across as lacking core convictions.

by
Yair Rosenberg
July 29, 2016
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alex Wong/Getty Images
Alex Wong/Getty Images
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton delivers remarks during the fourth day of the Democratic National Convention at the Wells Fargo Center, July 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Alex Wong/Getty Images

Hillary Clinton’s functional but effective acceptance speech on Thursday night exemplified the promise and perils of her presidential campaign to defeat Donald Trump.

On the one hand, it extended a rhetorical olive branch to Trump-skeptic conservatives with conspicuous displays of American patriotism, references to God, and promises of bipartisanship. Clinton entered the arena as her supporters waved thousands of American flags, and she exited while they held up predistributed red, white, and blue cards that created a massive American emblem.

“Don’t let anyone tell you that our country is weak—we’re not,” she declared, in a thinly veiled jab at her opponent. “Don’t let anyone tell you we don’t have what it takes. We do.” She continued, “Most of all, don’t believe anyone who says: ‘I alone can fix it.’ …Remember: Our Founders fought a revolution and wrote a Constitution so America would never be a nation where one person had all the power. Two hundred and forty years later, we still put our faith in each other.”

In an explicit bipartisan play, Clinton referenced Republicans who were supporting her campaign, and promised, “I will be a President for Democrats, Republicans, and Independents. For the struggling, the striving and the successful. For those who vote for me and those who don’t. For all Americans. Together.”

At the same time, Clinton’s address leaned left on policy, from immigration reform to Wall Street accountability to free college tuition, in a clear appeal to disaffected Bernie Sanders voters. “Wall Street, corporations, and the super-rich are going to start paying their fair share of taxes,” she said, sounding much like her primary opponent. “Not because we resent success. Because when more than 90 percent of the gains have gone to the top 1 percent, that’s where the money is. And we are going to follow the money.”

Finally, the very act of Clinton accepting a major party nomination was an unparalleled and emotional moment for America’s women and girls. The achievement was underscored by Hillary’s own life story, which she related in some detail in the speech. “I’m so happy this day has come,” she said. “Happy for grandmothers and little girls and everyone in between.”

Taken together, the elements of Clinton’s address comprise the blueprint for her electoral success—but also for her potential failure. At best, she laid the groundwork for a broad anti-Trump tent, encompassing everyone from feminists to disaffected Republicans to Sanders progressives. At worst, however, she risked attempting to be all things to all people, and satisfying none.

How Hillary and her campaign calibrate and microtarget these different aspects of her message will prove pivotal to her prospects in November. Will she be perceived as the cautious and calculating candidate who couldn’t commit or be pinned down? Or will she become the capacious vessel for America’s diverse opposition to Donald Trump?

We have 97 days to find out.

Yair Rosenberg is a senior writer at Tablet. Subscribe to his newsletter, listen to his music, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.