Clinton woos US millennial voters by writing ode to them

Democratic Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton holds a rally at West Philadelphia High School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 16, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]

WASHINGTON - US Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, in a bid to woo millennial voters who played a vital role in Senator Bernie Sanders' campaign during primaries, wrote an ode to praise them in an op-ed for Teen Vogue published on Tuesday.

"A smart former president - who happens to be my husband - once said there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be cured by what is right with America," the former state of secretary wrote.

"I couldn't agree more. And your generation embodies everything that is most right with America," she said, urging the young generation to rally around her in the general election.

"We have to come together to build an America that reflects the values your generation embodies - diversity, openness, innovation - and stop those who want to take us in a very different direction," she said, in a bid to consolidate the support of the millennials who fueled Sanders' challenge during the primaries.

A new USA TODAY/Rock the Vote Poll issued on Sunday found Clinton now leads Trump 56 percent to 20 percent among those under 35, though she has failed so far to arouse enthusiasm among millennials as Sanders has done.

A much more progressive Sanders may have netted an estimated 1.2 million more votes than Clinton among voters aged between 18 and 29 during the 2016 primary and caucus contests.

Trump, younger than Sanders but elder than Clinton, also enjoys a distinct advantage among millennials since his long-time celebrity status and obsessive social media presence make him a unique cultural phenomenon for younger Americans who have grown up knowing him more as host of his own reality TV show.