Tough crowd for Obama: Women who feel robbed

DENVER -- Barack Obama faces no greater challenge this week than to unite disappointed women Democrats behind his candidacy.

A pivotal moment comes tonight, when Obama's vanquished but still formidable rival Hillary Rodham Clinton addresses the convention and the nation, capping an evening of speeches from leading Democratic women.

The effectiveness and wholeheartedness of their endorsements of Obama -- especially Clinton's -- may prove a decisive moment in the 2008 election, which could turn on his ability to carry the women's vote in November.

Signs of Clinton support were visible Monday throughout the convention hall. Amid the Texas delegates, enthusiastically waving "Hillary" signs, delegate Lydia Pena of McAllen said recognition of Clinton's historic candidacy by allowing her name to be put in nomination would be one way to heal the wounds of a long and bruising primary campaign.

"Somebody needs to acknowledge what this wonderful woman did," she said. "She got more votes than he [Obama] did. I've seen conventions where candidates with three or four thousand votes got nominated. What is the problem?"

The issues of gender and race that fueled much of the passion in the primary struggle between Obama and Clinton linger in Denver. Nearly half of Minnesota's delegates to the DNC were initially committed to Clinton, and more than half who responded to a Star Tribune survey last week said more work is still needed to bring the party together.

Similar sentiments surfaced in a national poll released Monday that found fewer than half of Clinton's primary voters saying they definitely will vote for Obama in November.

McCain seeks to capitalize

The campaign of Republican John McCain has attempted to rub any remaining wounds raw with an ad suggesting that Clinton was passed over for the vice presidential nomination because of her criticism of Obama during the primary season.

But even as Clinton supporters in several state delegations held meetings in the hours leading up to Monday's call to order -- including about 20 Minnesota Clinton delegates who met privately for about an hour late Sunday at the party's hotel in Denver -- what emerged were assurances that in the end Clinton loyalists will back their nominee.

Minnesota superdelegate Jackie Stevenson, a member of the Democratic National Committee and one of the earliest Clinton supporters, said there has been no clear indication from the Clinton camp about what her pledged delegates should do.

Inside the Sunday night meeting, she said, some Clinton supporters wanted assurance that they could still vote their hearts.

"People are released with the idea that if they still feel the need ... to vote for her, whether it's emotionally, philosophically, that there would be no recrimination for doing so," Stevenson said.

Acknowledging a historic journey

State Sen. Tarryl Clark, DFL-St. Cloud, another Clinton delegate, said some in the meeting, particularly first-time attendees, were confused about how the convention might work and where their vote might fit in.

"Maybe some questions [like] 'How do I make sure I'm showing support for Barack Obama at the same time acknowledging that Sen. Clinton's journey was historic as well?' You don't get to have two different votes," she said.

Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner, another Clinton delegate, said much will ride on signals Clinton sends to her troops.

"You can't help but feel like something important was taken away," Gaertner said of Clinton's defeat. "People need to recognize the historic nature of what was accomplished. It would be good to recognize that at this convention."

There may be more catharsis -- and more direction -- on Wednesday. Clinton is expected to speak to her supporters in Denver at a reception.

In the end, unity is expected. "We know that when we walk out of here after Thursday night we are all going to be working to elect Obama president. It will be a totally unified group," Stevenson said.

In the new poll taken Thursday through Saturday for USA Today/Gallup, 47 percent of Clinton supporters say they are solidly behind Obama, and 23 percent say they support him but may change their minds before the election. Thirty percent say they will vote for Republican John McCain, someone else or no one at all.

Prior to the convention, the Star Tribune surveyed Minnesota delegates and asked whether they believed the party is completely united behind Obama or whether more work must be done to win over Clinton supporters.

Of the 50 respondents, 28 said more work needs to be done.

The concern reached down to a Monday morning breakfast for Minnesota delegates where party leaders such as former Vice President Walter Mondale and delegation co-chairwoman Sen. Amy Klobuchar made tacit references to healing any schism.

"We Democrats ... usually defeat ourselves," but get elected when united, Mondale told Minnesota delegates. "And so my plea to you is: Let's get this family together and win this election this fall."

Klobuchar, whose guarded decision to endorse Obama continues to sting some Clinton delegates, said she spoke to Clinton recently and Clinton's message will be clear.

"She wants to take back this White House, she wants to take back this presidency," Klobuchar said.

Mark Brunswick • 651-222-1636