Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., who has railed against system rigged in favor of his Democratic primary opponent Hillary Clinton, moved to end the discord on the convention floor Tuesday when he joined the Vermont delegation to nominate her by acclamation.
“I move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic Party for president of the United States,” Sanders said.”
For Sanders, it was the ultimate sacrificial move to bring the party together and reminiscent of 2008, when Clinton performed the same duty for then-Sen. Barack Obama, who defeated her in a bitter primary battle.
Sanders has been urging delegates since Monday to refrain from demonstrating on the convention floor, while at the same time calling for his supporters to push forward with his pro-socialist movement, which he has labeled a revolution.
The convention on Monday devolved into floor fights between pro-Sanders and pro-Clinton delegates. Sanders supporters booed Clinton backers and disrupted speeches all night long with chants for Sanders.
Thousands of protesters have demonstrated this week on the streets of Philadelphia against nominating Clinton, who they have criticized for not fully embracing their agenda, which includes providing free college and free health care.
Sanders supporters are angry with Clinton’s choice of moderate Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., as her running mate and the disclosure of Democratic Party emails that suggest officials were working against Sanders. Many walked out of the arena in protest after Sanders’ motion.
Sanders on Monday called on delegates to support Clinton’s campaign in order to defeat Republican nominee Donald Trump.
