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Reaction: Clinton persuades some, not all

Posted by James F. Smith August 27, 2008 12:13 AM

By Brian C. Mooney, Globe Staff

DENVER -- During Senator Hillary Clinton's address, Senator Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, a strong Clinton backer, waved a "Hillary" placard and then an "Obama/Unity" sign. Afterward, Landrieu, 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.

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 on Thursday when he addresses the convention to accept the nomination before making 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 cast a ballot for McCain. "So the Democrats lost a vote there," Jiloty said.

8 comments so far...
  1. Hillary could be a valuable addition to an Obama administration. She had her greatest moment tonight-by accepting that she had not won the nomination and showing her support for Barack, she gained something greater-the admiration and respect of the American people and her just place in history.
    Hillary has tremendous intelligence and talent-she would make a great Secretary of State.

    Posted by Katrina August 27, 08 12:28 AM
  1. I think Hillary Clinton rocked tonight. One of the most important things she said in her speech was that it's not about me it's about the issues stupid. So anyone who supported her and now feels they either won't vote or will vote for McCain, is happy with the status quo no jobs, no health coverage, no energy policy, two wars, gas and food prices through the roof. A country that has lost its moral standing in the world and has become a debtor nation over the last 8 years. Stay home, November 4th or vote for McCain and in four years our national language may be Chineese. I'm sure if Obama is elected Hillary will play a major role in his administration.

    Posted by Harriet Jeffries August 27, 08 12:57 AM
  1. Unfortunately Sentor Hilliary Clinton have to do something for the inexperience Presidential candidate but at this very late since the Primaries victory for the democrat party is out of sight.The Republican have done everything right in the campaign trail and four more years is presented free thanks to Obamas vision of change.

    Posted by skmj August 27, 08 02:56 AM
  1. Nice speech and reinforces why I voted for Hillary in PA. Note what she didn't say - she did NOT vouch for Obama's credentials to be president.

    So instead of Hillary we get.....Michelle. The hater of corporate America. I heard her speech in neighboring Ohio where she told us NOT to work for corporate America. What a hypocrit! Her job at the University of Chicago Medical Center was to steer the uninsured patients away from its emergency room. Her job was to maximize profits and push those who couldn't pay to another hospital. And she's so high and mighty!

    Also, tell me this doesn`t sound like something Mussolini would have said: "Barack Obama will require you to work. He is going to demand that you shed your cynicism, to put down your division, that you come out of your isolation, that you move out of your comfort zones, that your push yourselves to be better and engaged. Barack will never allow you to go back to your lives as usual." What?!!!!

    In Michelle's eyes we are Lazy, Lethargic and Non-contributors to this economy and to our country. And all we're doing is sitting around waiting for her husband to tell us to get off our butts.

    These two are THE MOST DANGEROUS politicians this country has ever witnessed!!


    I'm voting McCain this time. No way on the Obamas. NO WAY!!!

    Posted by PUMAs Rock August 27, 08 09:06 AM
  1. Hillary gave a passionate, compelling, moving and brilliant speech. She reminded us once again that she is the best Presidential candidate in this election. She has overshadowed everyone on stage and will overshadow Obama as well. She made Michelle Obama look like a school kid, just as she made Obama look like a wide-eyed college student during the primary debates. By now, the Obamas should have come to realize that they aren't really ready for the national league yet. Sometimes I feel sorry for them -- they have been misled and used by jealous party elders like Nancy Pelosi and Ted Kennedy to act as their surrogate against Bill and Hillary Clinton. Pelosi and Kennedy will go down in history as the villains who put their own powers and egos above the welfare of the Democratic Party and the nation.

    Posted by BostonAgainstObama August 27, 08 12:16 PM
  1. If only Michelle Obama can see herself more clearly in the mirror. If only she could see how classy and brilliant Hillary Clinton is. She should once again watch her own speech, and see how silly and naive it is compared to Clinton's. Instead of lecturing others, she should learn to be more humble, and then some day she might grow up to be the next Hillary Clinton.

    Posted by mk August 27, 08 02:22 PM
  1. "Unfortunately Sentor Hilliary Clinton have to do something for the inexperience Presidential candidate but at this very late since the Primaries victory for the democrat party is out of sight.The Republican have done everything right in the campaign trail and four more years is presented free thanks to Obamas vision of change."

    Can anyone translate this for me? I feel like you were trying to bash the Democrats, but you're missing like a dozen words that would allow someone to make sense of this. All I'm getting is something like "Republicans good, Democrats bad. Obama not good."

    Posted by J.P. August 27, 08 03:42 PM
  1. mk - I've read about a half dozen of your posts. They have to be the most poorly researched pieces of drek I've seen. If you're saying that Obama is not the answer, I've LOVE to know who is. McCain?? Yeah, because a guy who goes along with the Bush agenda 95% of the time is just the kind of refresher we need. This country CANNOT afford to continue to get raped by the Right. We may not survive another 4 years of this crap.

    Posted by J.P. August 27, 08 03:48 PM
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About political intelligence Field reports from Boston Globe reporters and editors covering the 2008 presidential campaign and the national maneuvering of Bay State politicians.

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