Reaction: Clinton persuades some, not all

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.