Sanders won't nominate Clinton at Philadelphia convention

Maryland Senator Barbara Mikulski is set to officially nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the Democratic National Convention despite earlier reports that Bernie Sanders would be in charge to  promote unity in the party.

The Clinton campaign made the announcement on Tuesday, suggesting that negotiations with the Vermont senator had failed.

According to earlier reports, negotiations were underway to make Sanders nominate his former primary rival in an effort to tackle division within the party.

On the first day of the convention, his delegates remained defiant, booing every time Clinton’s name was brought up to let the convention know that they still want Sanders as president rather than Clinton, whom he has officially endorsed.

The nomination will be seconded by Georgia Representative John Lewis and Na'ilah Amaruan, an adjunct professor and public policy consultant.

In a prime-time speech late on Thursday, Clinton is set to officially accept the Democratic presidential nomination.

She has previously spoken in favor of 80-year-old Mikulski (pictured above), who has been a member of the Democratic Party since 1987.

“I’ve always had great admiration for women like Barb who take it upon themselves to create spaces where women can speak their minds freely."

Meanwhile, division seems to be remaining withing the party as some of Sanders' supporters refuse to throw their support behind the former first lady.

This came despite efforts by high-profile Democratic figures to convince them to vote for Clinton.

Among those who made the case for Hillary was Michelle Obama, the country's  first lady, who said on the Day 1 of the convention that she would vote for her in the November election.

"Only one person who I believe is truly qualified to be president of the United States and that is our friend Hillary Clinton," she said at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Michelle, whose appearance at the podium put a halt to boos by the so-called "Bernie or Busters," tacitly attacked Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump in her speech.

"I want someone with the proven strength to persevere, someone who knows this job and takes it seriously. Someone who understands that the issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters," said the first lady, referring to Trump's inclination for Twitter fights.

She also suggested that, as president, Clinton, would promote equality and unity among Americans.

"I want a president who will teach our children that everyone in this country matters. A president who truly believes... that we are all created equal, each a beloved part of the great American story. And when crisis hits, we don't turn against each other -- no, we listen to each other. We lean on each other," she said.

She also echoed Clinton's campaign slogan, saying, "Because we are always stronger together. And I am here tonight because I know that that is the kind of president that Hillary Clinton will be. And that's why, in this election, I'm with her."

Her husband, US President Barack Obama, and his vice president, Joe Biden, would be other key figures to try Wednesday to bring the Bernie or Busters back to the party.

On Day 2 of the convention on Tuesday, Hillary's husband, Bill Clinton, would also make the case for her.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk