Sen. McCaskill: Clinton victory is a ‘very special moment’ for women

When Hillary Clinton clinched the Democratic party’s presidential nomination on Tuesday night, Claire McCaskill looked at the faces of her women colleagues in the Senate for their reactions.

“We all kind of looked at each other and tried to keep from busting out in a big grin because we all knew what last night meant in terms of the history of our country and the struggles that so many women have gone through,” the Missouri Democrat said.

Although McCaskill favored Barack Obama over Clinton in 2008, she has become a vocal supporter of the former secretary of state, endorsing her for president before Clinton even announced her candidacy.

She told ”CBS This Morning” on Wednesday that watching Clinton’s victory speech was a “very special moment.”

“Like Hillary Clinton last night I really missed my mother,” she said. “You know, my mother was someone that when I was 7 years old insisted that I say, ‘Trick or treat and vote for JFK.’ She was like Hillary Clinton’s mother. She made me believe from a very young age that serving the public was honorable and that women could do anything.”

McCaskill said the fact that Clinton is a woman will be a problem for some people, “but with other people it will be a big plus.”

This election will not just be about Republican policies vs. Democratic policies, but about what kind of leader will represent the country, the senator said.

“It’s whether or not we’re willing to put into the Oval Office someone who is vulgar who makes frequent racist comments, who makes it up as he goes along, who is risky and reckless with what he says, who has been a buffoon in numerous instances and will be a buffoon on the world stage, versus someone who is strong and steady and capable,” McCaskill said.

“The contrast is so significant I have to believe the country will come together.”

This story was originally published June 8, 2016 at 11:15 AM with the headline "Sen. McCaskill: Clinton victory is a ‘very special moment’ for women."