• by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, June 8, 2016

The Associated Press announced Hillary Clinton as the presumptive Democratic nominee Monday night. The former Secretary of State did the same herself last night at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

“Thanks to you,” Clinton told supporters in Brooklyn, “we’ve reached a milestone, the first time in our nation’s history that a woman will be a major party’s nominee.”

Clinton picked up wins in South Dakota and New Mexico, and key victories in New Jersey and California, solidifying a primary win that had eluded her for longer than many expected.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders pledged to continue to the convention in late July, hoping to convince superdelegates to switch sides. Following last night’s votes, however, Bernie Sanders would need to poach almost every superdelegate pledged to Clinton, a task that now, after his 13-point loss in California, looks nearly impossible.

Going forward, the Clinton campaign focused on the plight of those in society who have been held down by prejudice and discrimination: “It may be hard to see tonight, but we are all standing under a glass ceiling right now. But don’t worry, we’re not smashing this one.”

She does want, figuratively, to smash many others.

Clinton’s fight against Donald Trump has already commenced, with pro-Clinton super PACs buying up inventory for attack ads against the Republican presumptive nominee. There will be a focus on targeting women and minorities, two groups that have been deeply offended by the Trump campaign.

Republicans will need to coalesce in some way around Trump, who has been toning down his outlandish attacks on a federal judge overseeing a case against Trump University. This could be a first sign that the GOP is gaining a stronger hold on their presumptive nominee, and that Trump is beginning to understand the need for moderation.

However, convincing voters that his deeply disturbing rhetoric throughout the primary season was not serious, while still retaining legitimacy, will be a difficult task.

Clinton and the DNC will not let up. For them, Trump has shown his true colors, which renders him "unfit" as a legitimate choice for president.