海角大神

By now, the historic nature of Hillary Clinton鈥檚 quest for the presidency has become so familiar as to be almost an afterthought.

But Mrs. Clinton鈥檚 achievement聽鈥撀燾linching the Democratic nomination for president聽鈥撀爄s no less significant: She is poised to become the first woman in American history to lead a major political party鈥檚 presidential ticket.

Clinton has, to quote her concession聽speech聽eight years ago today at the end of the 2008 primary season, put another major crack in the 鈥渉ighest, hardest glass ceiling鈥� in American politics.聽On Monday night, the Associated Press announced she had secured enough delegates, including "superdelegates," to win the nomination. On Tuesday night, in Brooklyn, N.Y., Clinton will declare victory.

Six states hold primaries on Tuesday聽鈥撀燙alifornia, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana. Even if Clinton loses the biggest prize, California, she is assured enough delegates to put her well beyond the 2,383 delegates needed for the nomination.

Clinton鈥檚 journey to this moment has been decades in the making. And it charts her course from idealistic college graduate to pragmatic political practitioner, schooled by her time as a highly involved first lady of Arkansas and then of the United States, followed by being a US senator, first-time presidential candidate, and secretary of State. On Tuesday, Clinton鈥檚 alma mater, Wellesley College, released聽the audio聽of her commencement address to her fellow class of 1969 graduates, revealing the passion of a driven young woman.聽

鈥淭he challenge now,鈥� young Hillary Rodham said, 鈥渋s to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible possible.鈥�

If teleported to today, Ms. Rodham might well have been a Bernie Sanders supporter聽鈥撀爈ike many idealistic Millennials. Though a Republican in high school, by her junior year in college, she was volunteering for the anti-war Eugene McCarthy鈥檚 presidential campaign. And in 1972, she and her future husband, Bill Clinton, worked for the liberal George McGovern鈥檚 campaign in Texas.

It was her time in Arkansas, then-dominated by conservative Democrats, that showed Hillary Clinton a political middle way, which she and her husband took to Washington when he became president.

Today, 鈥渃entrism鈥� is out, as conservatives and liberals come to dominate their respective political parties. Though curiously, the November lineup of Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton features neither a conservative nor a liberal. More aptly, it is a populist versus a pragmatist. And while Clinton played down her gender聽鈥撀燼nd her history-making potential聽鈥撀爐he first time she ran for president, this time it is central to her appeal.

That fact is laden with irony, says Debbie Walsh, director of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University in New Jersey.

鈥淭he irony is that you鈥檝e got a woman running against the most alpha-male candidate we鈥檝e ever seen,鈥� says Ms. Walsh. 鈥淚n some ways, she is part of the reason he and some of the people who support him may be feeling they want to 鈥榤ake America great again.鈥� "

The Trump slogan harks back to an earlier time when women (and minorities) held fewer positions of authority, Walsh says.

For Clinton, the irony of the progress women have made in virtually all spheres of life is that many young women aren鈥檛 especially motivated by the 鈥渇irst woman president鈥� argument.

There have already been so many firsts聽鈥撀爁irst female speaker of the House, first woman astronaut, women increasingly visible in corporate leadership, three female justices currently on the Supreme Court聽鈥撀爐hat there seems to be a sense that a woman president isn鈥檛 so unattainable, and that sooner or later, a female US president is inevitable. Never mind that the US is 91st in the world for women serving in the national legislature, says Walsh.

Many young voters know little of Clinton鈥檚 background聽鈥撀爃er fight for health care reform as first lady in the 1990s, her years at the Children鈥檚 Defense Fund, her decision to stick with her husband despite his sexual indiscretions.

鈥淚 think many of the struggles she went through are not even relevant for young voters,鈥� Jeanne Zaino, a political scientist at Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.,聽told the Monitor聽in April. 鈥淪o the idea that she 'stood by Bill Clinton,' the idea that she has been through the wringer with Republicans 鈥� all of those things 鈥� they just don鈥檛 have as much relevance to young people today.鈥澛�

In addition, some young voters鈥� impressions of Clinton center on her role as an establishment favorite, tainted by her connection to corporate money and a perpetual whiff of scandal.

But for many older Democratic women, Clinton鈥檚 ascension to the nomination represents a renewed hope, after her defeat eight years ago, that they could live to see the election of the first woman president. And for some, gender isn鈥檛 the most important factor.

鈥淚 support her because she鈥檚 bright, she鈥檚 measured, she exhibits extreme diplomacy in her approach on domestic and international issues,鈥� says Janet Braun, a 50-something corporate lawyer in South Pasadena who is phone-banking for Clinton. 鈥淗er being a woman is a bonus. I鈥檓 sickened by how much misogyny is out there. But I think she is the best candidate regardless of gender.鈥�

On Monday night, when the AP called Clinton the 鈥減resumptive nominee,鈥� after confirming additional commitments to her from superdelegates, the former secretary of State resisted declaring victory. She will savor that moment tonight. But on the trail in California on the final day before the biggest state holds its primary, she could barely contain her glee. And she didn鈥檛 hide her potential to make even more history.

鈥淢y supporters are passionate, they are committed, they have voted for me in great numbers across the country for many reasons,鈥� Clinton said. 鈥淏ut among the reasons is their belief that having a woman president would make a great statement聽鈥撀燼 historic statement聽鈥撀燼bout what kind of country we are, what we stand for. It鈥檚 really emotional.鈥�

Staff writer Jessica Mendoza contributed to this report from Los Angeles.