After some big wins on Tuesday, Clinton is the presumptive nominee
ST. PAUL (KMSP) - For Minnesota mother Jessica Andrist, Hillary Clinton’s historic presumptive nomination was more than a victory for the former United States Secretary of State. To Andrist, Clinton’s Tuesday night feat was cause for “cheers and tears.”
“My daughter who’s seven has been hearing about Hillary Clinton for her entire life. Since she was in my belly, actually,” Andrist said.
Andrist, who is also the vice chair of MN-DFL’s 6th Congressional District, explains Clinton’s accomplishment sets a shining example for her only child, Alex.
“To have the first woman as a presidential nominee is really, really exciting,” Andrist said.
Clinton’s presumptive Democratic nod garnered trending support from women across social media Wednesday when many posted girl power-esque praise with the hashtag “#IStandWithHer.”
Bernie Sanders’ supporters, meantime, will likely now have to choose who their vote will go to: Trump or Clinton.
Hamline University professor of legal studies and women’s studies Jeanee Kosieradzki expects Clinton will likely be embraced more by older women as opposed to younger women and girls.
“For instance, [women] can go to work now and know if they’re sexually harassed that won’t be tolerated," Kosieradzki said. "That wasn’t recognized until the '80s. I don’t know that they’re going to appreciate how long it took for women to get to this point.”
In terms of what lies ahead in the face-off between Trump and Clinton?
“Strap in, grab your children and lock the doors. It really is going to be a brutal election,” University of Minnesota political science professor Larry Jacobs said.
Republican strategist John Rouleau says Minnesota’s GOP is excited about a run against Clinton.
“She is manipulative, she’s calculated, she’s deceptive, she’s dishonest,” Rouleau said.
Although doubt shades Trump’s presidential abilities among some republicans, Rouleau expects the same doubt surrounds Clinton’s appeal among Minnesota democrats.
“I look forward to seeing how Donald Trump develops as a candidate and whether or not he’s able to move and run a general election campaign. [Minnesota Democrats] are not excited to be on the ticket with [Clinton].”
Yet, if you ask Andrist who our next president might be, her choice is a very excited no-brainer.
“How could you support Trump over Hillary Clinton? She’s so qualified,” Adrist said, “He’s a security threat to us as a nation. The things he says are dangerous, it’s hateful, it’s racist; I can’t imagine that would be our president. I would cry. I literally would cry."
Democratic and Republican presidential nominees will be officially announced in July.
While Clinton sets her eyes on winning over Sanders’ supporters, Trump has already announced plans to address Clinton’s background on Monday.