But her people don’t seem to be in the mood for unity:
Hillary Rodham Clinton’s most loyal delegates came to the Pepsi Center on Tuesday night looking for direction. They listened, rapt, to a 20-minute speech that many proclaimed the best she had ever delivered, hoping her words could somehow unwind a year of tension in the Democratic Party. But when Clinton stepped off the stage and the standing ovation faded into silence, many of her supporters were left with a sobering realization: Even a tremendous speech couldn’t erase their frustrations.
Despite Clinton’s plea for Democrats to unite, her delegates remained divided as to how they should proceed.
The article goes on to report the reaction of some of her supporters. They interviewed supporters who intend to move on and vote for Obama, a supporter who intends to work really hard to get McCain elected, a supporter who will work for her Congressman but not Obama, and supporters who don’t know what they’ll do.
The article also points out the devotion of her supporters:
Clinton said Tuesday night that it is Obama’s convention. But many of her supporters came here exclusively to honor her. One group traveled from New York and built an impromptu museum commemorating Clinton’s historic campaign. Another lighted thousands of candles in a park to symbolize her widespread support.
On Tuesday morning, hundreds of loyalists formed a 200-yard parade and marched through downtown. They shouted into loudspeakers and beat drums, creating a cacophony that echoed across the blocks. As they began marching, some of the supporters chanted, “We want a roll call.” Many of them wore their opinions on T-shirts: Country Over Party. Damn, We Wish You Were President. Still Making History. Democrats Left Behind.
At the front of the parade route, one banner summarized their message: Hillary. Who Else?
“A lot of people came here just because they wanted to celebrate Hillary,” said Elizabeth Fiechter, a New York City lawyer who helped organize the parade. “We get criticism because there’s this idea that the election should move on and just leave her behind. We’re not going down that quietly.”
We may knock Obama for his devotees but it seems that Hillary has her own group of worshipers.
If McCain does win this election and it’s the Clinton supporters who put him over the top, he better broaden his base because he will have a hard time going against Clinton in 2012. These women will not be denied 
and four years will only strengthen their resolve.
posted August 27, 2008 at 11:22 am
If those Clinton “devotees” vote for McCain, they are not true Democrats ot worthy of her. They are acting like spoiled children having a tantrum. They are just like those who on the Far Right who will not vote for McCain because he is not “Religious” enough.
And if McCain does pick Joe Shadow Lieberman as his running mate, watch for a mass exodus. If he picks Romney many Christian Zealots will flee and vote for a third party.
posted August 27, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Did Romney view his own ads about John McCain that aired in the primaries?
posted August 27, 2008 at 12:27 pm
“We may knock Obama for his devotees but it seems that Hillary has her own group of worshipers.”
pro-choice, pro-war, pro-amnesty, pro-campaign-fnance reform, flip-flop-tax-man, flip-flop-oil-man mccain wishes he had more than his one devotee (bush).
i’m john mccain and i approved this message
oh, and p.o.w.
posted August 27, 2008 at 4:18 pm
“If McCain does win this election and it’s the Clinton supporters who put him over the top, he better broaden his base because he will have a hard time going against Clinton in 2012. These women will not be denied
and four years will only strengthen their resolve.”
If McCain wins because of Clinton voters, there will be no Clinton candidacy in 2012. The Democratic party as we know it will cease to exist. Millions of blacks will abandon it completely, perhaps even forming their own third party (or joining the Greens…*gasp*).
If the Clinton supporters are willing to torpedo the party for the sake of Hillary, I certainly hope they have a party ready in the wings to nominate her in 2012. The Democratic party probably won’t be there.
posted August 27, 2008 at 6:08 pm
sorry… the whole hillary defection has always been overblown. remember the rumors of what she would do at the convention? steal the show; an underground movement would force the delegate and superdelegate counts to fall in her favor? the “rush limbaugh effect”, blah blah blah.
** FIZZLE **
the “liberal” media – being fed by right-wing rumor mills – will never get the truth to the people.
posted August 28, 2008 at 3:34 pm
“sorry… the whole hillary defection has always been overblown. remember the rumors of what she would do at the convention? steal the show; an underground movement would force the delegate and superdelegate counts to fall in her favor? the “rush limbaugh effect”, blah blah blah.”
Then explain this: when the public is polled about generic Democrat v. generic Republican, Democrat comes out ahead by double digits. But when the public is polled on Obama v. McCain, Obama comes out with less than a 5% lead.
This election will be lost or won by the Democrats. There won’t be any third party to blame this time around, or any funny voting machines to point to. The Dems will have nobody to blame but themselves if they blow it this time.
And if they do so, I have to agree that it will bring about a war within the party, and probably a huge schism.
posted August 29, 2008 at 12:30 am
Please, share your source of WHICH poll, if you can.
Polls, schmolls. They’re irrelevant.