Mikulski, Lewis To Nominate Clinton; Sanders Could Play A Role

Maryland Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski and Georgia Rep. John Lewis will formally nominate Hillary Clinton for the presidency on Tuesday night, PBS NewsHour's John Yang and NPR's Mara Liasson report.

But don't be surprised if Bernie Sanders also plays a role tonight during the roll call — something potentially similar to what Clinton did in 2008 for Barack Obama. Back then, the roll call was stopped when it came to New York, and Clinton, after her long and divisive primary against Obama, called for a vote for Obama by acclamation. It was a move that allowed the party to nominate Obama unanimously.

Mikulski, the longest-serving woman in Congress, and Lewis, a major civil rights leader, have both broken down political barriers, and they are set to make history again as they help Clinton become the first female nominee of a major political party.

More than 1,800 delegates are pledged to Sanders, and he told them Monday night, "I look forward to your votes during the roll call."

However, in an important show of party unity, Sanders also delivered a full-throated endorsement of Clinton on Monday night.

"By these measures, any objective observer will conclude that — based on her ideas and her leadership — Hillary Clinton must become the next president of the United States. The choice is not even close," Sanders said.

He could make another major show of unity Tuesday night if he calls for that vote by acclamation.

The news of Mikulski and Lewis' nomination comes after reports Tuesday morning that the Bernie Sanders and Clinton camps were in talks about Sanders nominating Clinton.

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