washingtonpost.com – From left, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and then-Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) leave a hearing on Capitol Hill in 2006. (Lauren Victoria Burke/Associated Press)

With the official nomination of Donald Trump as the Republican Party’s presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton has the opponent of her dreams — someone whose character, preparation and views are so defective as to make last night’s roll call a devastating moment in the lives of many Republicans. The GOP has had magnificent nominees (Abraham Lincoln) and likable nominees (Ronald Reagan, Dwight D. Eisenhower). It’s had admirable nominees who lost (Mitt Romney) and flawed nominees who won (Richard Nixon). It has never — and we certainly include Barry Goldwater — had a nominee who embarrasses and disgusts a significant number of people in his own party. How does Clinton, without endangering support in her own ranks, reach out to Republicans to secure her win? Here are five steps she can take: