Women to meet, one goal in mind

Obama's backers wooing Clinton's

Martha Coakley, AG and Clinton fan, will attend.

Attorney General Martha Coakley will be among the supporters of Hillary Clinton attending a meeting Thursday night with Boston area women who are key backers of Barack Obama, a sign that the Democratic unification process is well underway.

Coakley was among the last Massachusetts delegates to endorse Clinton, declaring her support shortly before Obama locked up enough delegates to secure the nomination.

About two dozen people are expected at the meeting, designed to establish a group of women opinion leaders working for the Democratic ticket. The meeting was organized by some of Obama's top women supporters in the state: attorney Cheryl Cronin, communications consultant Mary Fifield, Carol Fulp, a vice president at John Hancock Financial Services, and Liz Morningstar, executive director of Governor Deval Patrick's political committee.

At the same time, about 100 members of Clinton's national finance team will meet in Washington, D.C., with Clinton and Obama. In that group will be Bay Staters Steve Grossman, Barbara Lee, and Elaine Schuster.

"Just like Hillary, who thinks we have to put the country back on the right track, I am going to stand with Hillary and him to help unify the party," Lee said.

BRIAN C. MOONEY