An impassioned call for unity

Clinton tells party Obama 'must be our president'

Senator Hillary Clinton last night at the Democratic National Convention. The former presidential candidate urged Democrats to support Barack Obama. (Dina Ruddick/Globe Staff)

DENVER - Senator Hillary Clinton, answering a high-stakes challenge to unite her fractured party, called on Democrats last night to join together in an urgent mission: to elect her onetime foe, Barack Obama, as the next president of the United States.

In an address closely scrutinized for perceived slights against Obama, Clinton threw herself fully behind the man she battled and often criticized during a long and at times bitter primary campaign.

"We are on the same team, and none of us can sit on the sidelines," Clinton said, as a feverish crowd cheered and waved "Hillary" signs. "This is a fight for the future. And it's a fight we must win together," Clinton added, winning a deafening round of applause after uttering the word "together."

"You haven't worked so hard over the last 18 months, or endured the last eight years, to suffer through more failed leadership. No way. No how. No McCain," Clinton said. And with the next sentence, Clinton said the words, unthinkable just a year ago, that defined the end of her long, unsuccessful struggle to become the first female president: "Barack Obama is my candidate. And he must be our president," Clinton said to loud applause from convention- goers waving three-sided signs with "Hillary" on one side, "Obama" on another and "Unity"on the third.

At times, Clinton's address sounded like an acceptance speech, as she recalled her own historic quest for the White House and the many people she met on the campaign trail and hoped to help as president. A video presentation, narrated by the senator's daughter, Chelsea, praised Clinton's ground-breaking candidacy, and included just a smattering of photos of her with Obama.

But the senator reminded her many supporters in the packed Pepsi Center that the campaign was not ultimately about her, but about bringing prosperity, justice, and fairness to all Americans.

"I want you to ask yourselves: Were you in this campaign just for me? Or were you in it for that young Marine and others like him? Were you in it for that mom struggling with cancer while raising her kids?

"Were you in it for that boy and his mom surviving on the minimum wage? Were you in it for all the people in this country who feel invisible?" Clinton asked the assembled Democrats.

Some fervent Clinton supporters still retained resentment toward Obama, believing that the former first lady would have been a stronger pick than the freshman lawmaker from Illinois.

Republicans have sought to capitalize on the division, running ads featuring Clinton's primary campaign comments depicting Obama as too inexperienced and unqualified to be commander-in-chief.

But Clinton - who has been aggressively combatting the GOP ads - told the Democrats that they could not afford to spend time harboring ill feelings.

"We don't have a moment to lose or a vote to spare," Clinton said. "Nothing less than the fate of our nation and the future of our children hang in the balance."

Clinton also aimed some shots at GOP nominee-in-waiting John McCain, saying the Arizona senator "thinks it's OK when women don't earn equal pay for equal work" and doesn't care about the number of Americans without health insurance.

"With an agenda like that, it makes sense that George Bush and John McCain will be together next week in the Twin Cities," Clinton said, referring to the upcoming Republican National Committee convention in Minnesota. "Because these days they're awfully hard to tell apart."

During Clinton's address, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a strong Clinton backer, waved a "Hillary" placard and then an "Obama/Unity" sign. Afterward, Landrieu, who is in a battle for reelection, said she will campaign for Obama as much as she can and predicted most of Clinton's supporters will too. Landrieu said "a handful" of Clinton's supporters, mostly women, will abandon the party's nominee or sit out the general election. "The vast majority of women are thinking about their families and the future of the country," Landrieu said.

Clinton delegates in New Mexico, a primary Clinton narrowly won, said they would support Obama and several sported "Clinton supporter for Obama" buttons, which began appearing on on the floor of the convention hall. However, several Clinton delegates in the Indiana and Florida delegations said they probably would not vote for Obama, but would not consider casting a ballot for a Republican.

Luchy Secaira, a Clinton delegate from Naples, Fla., campaigned for Clinton in nine states during the nominating fight against Obama and was angry about the way Clinton was treated. After Clinton's remarks, she said: "Wow! She's one tough cookie . . . You heard her. What I will do is take all the anger that I feel and turn it now and do all I can to help Obama as a way to honor her, even though the party doesn't deserve her."

Another Clinton stalwart from Florida, a battleground state, was not persuaded. Marykay Jiloty of Ormond Beach, said there is little chance she will support Obama but will hear him out tomorrow when he addresses the convention to accept the nomination before making a final decision. "I want to hear specifics from him about what he will do," she said after Clinton spoke. "I would consider not voting for anyone" in November, she said, but noted that her husband, a Republican who would have voted for Clinton will now vote for McCain. "So the Democrats lost a vote there," Jiloty said.

The Obama campaign was careful to provide ample convention attention to the Clinton family, giving the New York senator a prime time slot last night, and former President Bill Clinton his own featured role tonight.

Michelle Obama paid tribute to Hillary Clinton Monday in her opening-night address, lauding the second-place finisher for putting "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling," echoing Clinton's own words on the campaign trail.

Hours before the New York senator was to speak, women cheered in the Pepsi Center, holding signs that said, "When Women Vote, Democrats Win." Eight of the Senate's 11 female Democrats spoke in the afternoon.

The convention signaled both a triumph and an emotional transition for the Clintons. With no Democrat winning the White House since Bill Clinton left in 2001, the former president had been the party's unofficial leader. Clinton had been an early favorite to win the primaries, with high name recognition, eight years in the Senate, tens of millions of dollars, and a solid political resume.

But Obama's acceptance of the nomination tomorrow - to be held in a football field for 70,000 political fans - will make the 47-year-old Illinois senator the new leader of the Democrats.