Hillary Clinton accepts Democratic nomination for president
PHILADELPHIA (WLS) -- Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president Thursday night, becoming the first woman major party nominee in history.
"It is with humility, determination and boundless confidence in America's promise that I accept your nomination for President of the United States," she told the cheering crowd.
"When there are no ceilings, the sky's the limit," she said of her historic nomination.
WATCH: Hillary Clinton's full acceptance speech
Clinton covered the map in her speech, covering topics from health care to gun control, the Supreme Court to fighting terrorism. Her message was that America is stronger when all its people come together as she laid out her plan for leading the nation.
"Don't ever let anyone tell you we don't have what it takes; we do. And most of all don't believe anyone who says I alone can fix it," Clinton said, aiming squarely for her opponent Donald Trump.
"I will be a president for Democrats, Republicans and Independents, for the struggling, the striving and the successful, for all those who vote for me and for those who don't; for all Americans together," she said.
Clinton vs. Trump: Their words about each other
She openly questioned Trump's temperament and his fitness for commander of America's military.
"A man you can bait with a tweet is not a man we can trust with nuclear weapons," Clinton told the crowd.
She called for higher taxes on Wall Street and the rich, said she was not going to take away people's guns and said she will work with the man she opposed in the primary.
"Bernie Sanders and I will work together to make college free for the middle class and debt-free for all," she promised.
WATCH: Hillary Clinton's 'thank you' to Bernie Sanders at the DNC
She called for Americans to consider the value of black lives as well as blue lives.
"That is the story of America and we begin a new chapter tonight," she said. She hopes to be the author of that chapter along with all other Americans who are standing by her.
Her speech ended with wild applause and a massive balloon drop, and the Illinois delegation gladly joined in on the celebration.
"It's unbelievable," said Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, who had her daughter by her side. "I mean Hillary Clinton is so strong, so smart, and so ballsy. She's going to be the first woman president and we're so excited!"
PHOTOS: Scenes from the 2016 DNC in Philadelphia
Clinton was introduced by her daughter Chelsea, who shared personal anecdotes about her mother from her childhood and stories about Hillary as a grandmother to her two young children.
Chelsea Clinton says she's learned from her mother: "Public service is about service."
"I hope that my children will someday be as proud of me as I am of my mom. I am so grateful to be her daughter," Clinton said.
WATCH: Chelsea Clinton introduces Hillary Clinton at DNC
There will be inevitable comparisons between what Chelsea says and what Ivanka Trump said in introducing her father at the Republican National Convention, both being given opportunities to reveal the more personal side of their respective parents.
"Obviously she knows her mom as well as anybody, from a different perspective. I would urge her, as I would urge her mother, not to compete with anybody and just deliver the message you want to deliver from your heart. Deliver it authentically and I think the rest will take care of itself," said former presidential senior adviser David Axlerod.
One of the night's early, but most powerful, speakers was Khzir Kahn whose son Capt. Humayun Khan who died in the line of duty protecting fellow soldiers from a suicide bomber. Khan decried Donald Trump and his smearing of American Muslims.
"Let me ask you: Have you even read the U.S. Constitution?" he asked before pulling a small pocket copy out of his jacket. "I will gladly lend you my copy."
WATCH: Father of fallen soldier asks if Trump has read the Constitution
On Wednesday night, President Barack Obama made his case for why "he's with her." The country's first African American president embraced the first woman to be nominated by a major party for president of the United States. His passionate convention speech brought tears to his eyes.
WATCH: President Obama's full remarks
"There has never been a man or a woman - not me, not Bill - nobody more qualified than Hillary Clinton to serve as President of the United States of America!" Obama said. "I hope you don't mind, Bill, I was just telling the truth."
Hillary Clinton took the audience by surprise at the end of the night where the current White House was in full force to show support for her and to take a stand against Donald Trump. President Obama argued that a diverse, yet undivided America is stronger.
"That's what Hillary Clinton understands. This fighter, this stateswoman, this mother and grandmother, this public servant, this patriot - that is the America she's fighting for," Obama said.
Vice President Joe Biden set up the attack on the opposition.
"He's trying to tell us he cares about the middle class? Give me a break. That's a bunch of malarkey," Vice President Joe Biden said.
WATCH: Vice President Joe Biden's full DNC speech
Vice presidential nominee Senator Tim Kaine, got personal about his military son overseas.
"I trust Hillary Clinton with our son's life," Kaine said. "You know who I don't trust? Hm, I wonder. Donald Trump!"
RAHM EMANUEL ATTENDS FINAL DAYS OF DNC
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel attended his first Illinois delegation breakfast on the final morning of the 2016 Democratic National Convention.
"I firmly believe that this convention is about hope where Cleveland, the Republican convention, was about fear," Emanuel said.
At the 2012 convention Emanuel, a newly-elected mayor, was considered a national Democratic Party leader. But at the end of a rocky first term followed by the Laquan McDonald police shooting controversy, 25th Ward Alderman Danny Solis says Emanuel is no longer considered the city's political boss.
"I think his focus is trying to clean up the issues we have to deal with in the city and I don't think he's thinking in terms of being a political boss right now," Solis said.
The only Emanuel mention at this year's convention was in last night's video recalling how President Obama rejected his former chief of staff's advice on health care reform.
"President Obama wanted a fresh, honest assessment and I gave him a fresh, honest assessment on it," Emanuel said.
The mayor told reporters he remained in Chicago Monday and Tuesday this week to pen the new Whole Foods distribution center in the South Side Pullman neighborhood. When asked if his stature among the party has faded, he said no.
"I did exactly my job, bringing jobs to Chicago, to the Pullman area, and I'm here for the two days. This is my eighth convention," he said.
He also said he wasn't worried about not having a speaking role.
"A lot of people don't have a speaking role. Don't worry about it," said Emanuel.
ILLINOIS DEMOCRATS TURN THEIR FOCUS ON GOVERNOR'S OFFICE
After fighting for Illinois in Washington as a U.S. congressman or senator for the past 33 years, Sen. Dick Durbin set his sights on Springfield and Republican governor Bruce Rauner Thursday morning.
"What this governor has done to our state is inexcusable and unacceptable," Durbin said in a speech to the Illinois delegation. "He has hurt more innocent people with his so-called turnaround agenda."
On Monday, Durbin told reporters the 2018 election was 30 months away and he's focused solely on the 2016 races. That same day, state Democratic Chairman Mike Madigan said the next state gubernatorial primary was a wide open affair.
"You'll find plenty of Illinois Democrats that are anxious to participate in the next governor's election," Madigan said.
Durbin, who turns 72 in November, says Madigan has talked to him about running for governor not once but on multiple occasions.
"Many times, not just this year but many time he's brought it up to me. And we've talked it over. Where are you thinking? I told him what I've just told you," he said.
Durbin says he will say more about his plans, including any kind of run for the governor's office, after the 2016 general election is over.
Stay tuned to ABC7 Eyewitness News this week for more live reports from the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.
