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Michelle Obama stole the show at the Democratic National Convention with an "electrifying" speech that left the audience in tears and many comparing it to Martin Luther King's I Have A Dream.

In 15 minutes, the First Lady defeated Donald Trump without even mentioning his name as she endorsed Hillary Clinton.

She spoke of her "beautiful, intelligent" daughters, race and bullying tactics as she brought the crowd to tears in Philadelphia.

Her stirring speech made several pointed references to Republican candidate Trump – without ever saying his name.

Trump's signature slogan "let's make America great again" was sent up by Flotus, as she told the delighted crowd: "Don't let anyone tell you America isn't great, that somehow we need to make it great again."

(Image: REUTERS/Scott Audette)

To huge cheers, Mrs Obama said at the convention: "In this election and every election, it's about who has the power to shape the lives of our children.

"We urge them to ignore those who question their father's citizenship or faith. We insist that the hateful language of public figures they hear on television does not represent the true spirit of this country."

(Image: rex)

In a clear reference to Trump's notorious dirty politics, littered with lies and insults, she said: "When someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level.

"Our motto is: when they go low, we go high."

Her amazing oration stirred the crowd, as they cheered, clapped and cried while listening to her endorsement of Clinton.

As Mrs Obama said, "Hillary knows this is so much bigger than her own desires and disappoints," the crowd whooped and waved their banners in the air.

Bill Clinton could be spotted clapping and cheering as he listened in the crowd, grinning from ear-to-ear.

(Image: Rex Features)

Democrat supporters applauded Mrs Obama's speech, with some Twitter users suggesting she should run for president.

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson said he was in tears watching the speech, while others praised it as "electrifying".

Actress Jurnee Smollett wrote on Twitter that she loves Mrs Obama and was crying watching the speech.

Gary Lineker wrote on Twitter: "A superb speech by Michelle Obama. Showed up the weaknesses of Trump without a single insult. A lesson to all."

It was retweeted by Piers Morgan who added: "What a brilliant speech by Flotus. Such a smart, warm, engaging and passionate lady. Hugely impressive."

Her speech was inspirational and personal as she recounted moving into the White House and sending off her two daughters to school.

On the first day, as they left with Secret Service agents, she said: "I saw those little faces up against the window and the only thing I could think, 'What have we done?'"

People were also quick to draw comparisons between Mrs Obama's impassioned oration and Martin Luther King's seminal I Have a Dream speech, saying it will go down in history.

"The issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters," she said.

"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves and I watch my daughters – two beautiful, intelligent, black young women – playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.

"And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters, and all our sons and daughters, take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States."

(Image: Rex)

The First Lady seemed to struggle against tears herself as she recounted the history making nature of Clinton's bid.

Obama noted that when Clinton "didn't win the nomination eight years ago, she didn't get angry or disillusioned. Hillary didn't pack up and go home".

"This election isn't about Democrat or Republican," she said.

(Image: Getty)

"There is only one person truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is out friend Hillary Clinton. Because we are always stronger together.

"And I know that's the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be."

The message was not lost after a day in which supporters of Bernie Sanders openly expressed their dismay at the party and booed at points when speakers mentioned unifying behind Clinton.

The major conference marks the formal declaration of Clinton as candidate for the White House after she won 2,814 delegates to Mr Sanders' 1,893.

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Mr Sanders thanked his wife, four children and seven grandchildren and said: "I understand that many people here in this convention hall and around the country are disappointed about the final results of the nominating process.

"I think it's fair to say no one is more disappointed than I am."

But he added: "Together my friends we have begun a political revolution to transform America - and that revolution, our revolution, continues!"

Seeking to unite his party, Mr Sanders closed the first night of the Democratic National Convention by saying the choice was "not even close" between Clinton and Republican nominee Mr Trump.

(Image: Rex Features)

When the chants continued, Sanders appeared moved and bit his lip as if to hold back tears.

Before turning his attention to his support for Clinton, Sanders used his speech to give a shout out to what he called the "historical" movement he built.

The 74-year-old senator signalled that he did not intend to disappear from the political scene.

He said: "The struggle of the people to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1%. A government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice - that struggle continues."

Michelle Obama's amazing speech in full

"You know, it's hard to believe that it has been eight years since I first came to this Convention to talk with you about why I thought my husband should be president.

"Remember how I told you about character and conviction, his decency and his grace, the traits we have seen every day he has served our country in the White House?

"I also told you about our daughters, how they are the heart of our hearts, the centre of our world, and during our time in the White House we have had the joy of watching them grow from bubbly little girls into poised young women.

"[It's] a journey that started soon after we arrived in Washington, when they set off for their first day in their new school.

"I will never forget that morning as I watched our girls, just seven and 10 years old, pile into those black SUVs with all those men with guns.

(Image: Barcroft Media)

"And I saw their little faces pressed up against the window and the only thing I could think is: 'What have we done?'

"Because then I realised our time at the White House would form the foundation for who they would become and how we managed that experience could truly make or break them.

"That's what Barack and I think about every day as we try and guide and protect our girls through the challenges of this unusual life in the spotlight.

"How we urge them to ignore those who question their father's citizenship or faith.

"We insist that the hateful language of public figures they hear on television does not represent the true spirit of this country.

"How we explain when someone is cruel or acts like a bully, you don't stoop to their level.

"Our motto is: when they go low, we go high.

"With every word we utter, with every action we take, we know our kids are watching us. We, as parents, are their most important role models.

"Barack and I take that same approach to our jobs because we know our words and actions matter to kids across the country.

(Image: REUTERS)

"Kids who tell us, 'I saw you on TV, I wrote a report on you for school,' or that little black boy who looked at my husband, his eyes wide with hope, and said: 'Is my hair like yours?'

"And make no doubt, when we go to the polls this November, that is what we're deciding.

"This election isn't about Democrat or Republican, left or right.

"In this election and every election, is about who has the power to shape the lives of our children.

"And I am here tonight because in this election there is only one person who I trust with that responsibility.

"There is only one person truly qualified to be president of the United States, and that is out friend Hillary Clinton. Because we are always stronger together.

"And I know that's the kind of president Hillary Clinton will be.

"I trust Hillary to lead this country because I have seen her life-long devotion to our nation's children. Not just her own daughter, who she has raised to perfection, but every child who needs a champion.

"Kids who take the long way to school to avoid the gangs, kids who wonder how they will ever afford college, kids whose parents can't speak a word of English but dream of a better life, kids who look to us to determine who and what they can be.

"Hillary has spent decades doing the relentless, thankless work to actually make a difference in their lives.

"Advocating for kids with disabilities as a young lawyer, fighting for children's healthcare as First Lady and for quality childcare in the senate.

"And when she didn't win the nomination eight years ago, she didn't get angry or disillusioned.

"Hillary did not pack up and go home because, as a true public servant, Hillary knows this is so much bigger than her own desires and disappointments.

"So she proudly stepped up to serve our country as Secretary of State, travelling the globe to keep hour kids safe.

(Image: Getty)

"There were plenty of moments when Hillary could have decided this work was too hard, that the price of public service was too hard, she was bored of being picked apart for how she looks or how she laughs.

"What I admire most about her is she never buckles under pressure. She never takes the easy way out. She has never quit on anything in her life.

"And when I think about the kind of president I want for my girls and all our children, that's what I want. I want someone with the proven strength to persevere, someone who knows this job and takes it seriously, someone who knows the issues a president faces are not black and white and cannot be boiled down to 140 characters.

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"Because when you have the nuclear codes at your finger tips and the military in your command you can't make snap decisions.

"You have to be steady and measured, and well-informed.

"I want a president whose life's work shows our children that we don't chase fame and fortune for ourselves.

"That we give back even when we are struggling ourselves because we know there is someone else worse off.

"I want a president who teaches everyone in this country matters, that truly believes in the vision that our founder put forward that we are all created equal, and that when crisis hits we don't turn against each other we listen to each other, we lean on each other.

"Because we are always stronger together.

"Hillary understands that the president is about one thing and one thing only: leaving something better for our kids.

"I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves and I watch my daughters – two beautiful, intelligent, black young women – playing with their dogs on the White House lawn.

(Image: Getty)

"And because of Hillary Clinton, my daughters, and all our sons and daughters, take for granted that a woman can be president of the United States.

"So, don't let anyone ever tell you that this country isn't great, that somehow we need to make it great again, because this right now is the greatest country on earth.

"As my daughters prepare to set out into the world, I want a leader who is worthy of that truth, a leader who is guided by love and hope and impossibly big dreams we all have for our children.

"In this election, we cannot sit back and hope this all works out for the best.

"We cannot afford to be tired or frustrated or cynical.

"No, hear me: between now and November we need to do what we did eight years ago and four years ago.

"We need to knock on ever door, we need to get every vote, we need to pour every last ounce of our passion and our strength and our love for this country in electing Hillary Clinton president of the United States of America.

"So let's get to work."