Hillary Clinton is the first woman to become a Democratic presidential nominee, making history in the 240 years of American politics.
Based on CNN's count, Clinton has secured 1,812 pledged delegates and 572 superdelegates for a total of 2,384 delegates - topping the number of needed delegates (2,383) to clinch the nomination of the Democratic Party.
The count is expected to increase, as delegate-rich state New Jersey and California are yet to hold their contests.
Clinton's rival Bernie Sanders is not backing down just yet.
In a press release, Sanders' campaign manager Michael Briggs said that voting for superdelegates will not happen until July 25.
"It is unfortunate that the media, in a rush to judgment, are ignoring the Democratic National Committee's clear statement that it is wrong to count the votes of superdelegates before they actually vote at the convention this summer," said Briggs.
Briggs added that Clinton still does not have the required number of pledged delegates to clinch the Democratic nomination. For her to do so, she must be able to convince the superdelegates, who may still change their minds until they vote.
If she indeed secures enough votes, the former senator and first lady will go up against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump in November's general elections.
Although Clinton is the first woman presidential Democratic nominee, the 68-year-old feminist icon is no stranger to politics. Being a first lady then a senator, Clinton also served as the United States' Secretary of State after she lost to Obama in 2008.
Her stint as Secretary of State was tumultuous as Clinton faced a lot of issues, particularly the scandal over her private email server. The issue has many politicians and constituents questioning her honesty and transparency.
Democratic Party Collapse
Before Clinton sets her sights on Trump, she also carries the burden of unifying the collapsing Democratic Party. Many of Sanders' supporters believe that Clinton used her influence on the party in her favor.
"My problem is that the process today has allowed Secretary Clinton to get the support of over 400 superdelegates before any other Democratic candidate was in the race," said Sanders during an interview with CNN's Jake Trapper. "It's like an anointment."
If Clinton is looking to beat Trump in the presidential race, she must first address the deepening divide within the party.
Making History
Clinton, despite being criticized for her poor campaigning skills, believes that she will be the one to face Trump in November.
"I certainly haven’t won every battle I’ve fought. But leadership means perseverance and hard choices. You have to push through the setbacks and disappointments and keep at it," she said during her campaign launch.
Addressing the voters in Long Beach, California, Clinton said there is still much work to be done. She is still going to make sure every single vote, particularly in California, would be hers.
Indeed, Clinton must not rest on the numbers alone. In 2008, she was also seen as the presumptive nominee but was hurled with many unexpected self-inflicted challenges, and eventually lost to Barack Obama. She would not want history repeating itself.
Photo: Brett Weinstein | Flickr
