Some Clinton Delegates Not Sold by Speech

As the Democratic National Convention begins its presidential nominating process with the traditional roll call of the states this afternoon in Denver, some supporters of Sen. Hillary Clinton remain unconvinced that she wants them to support Sen. Barack Obama as the party's nominee. Mrs. Clinton met with her delegates earlier today and officially released them from voting for her on the convention floor.

But some say that they will cast their votes for Sen. Clinton anyhow. "I don't think she believed that her supporters are going to fall in line behind Obama," said Darragh Murphy, founder of the pro-Clinton group known as PUMA, which stands for Party Unity My A--. "Her request was tepid. "The only thing I know is that I won't vote for Obama."

That sentiment has caused a rift between the two main groups of Clinton supporters, PUMA, and 18 Million Voices. 18 Million Voices members are more open to supporting Sen. Obama, but one member said that Obama still had some work to do to fully win over the group.

"I feel that I'm going against her wishes, but I'm still waiting for Barack Obama to sell me, to give me a reason to want him in the presidency. We're still not convinced."

The roll call of the states almost didn't happen over concerns that a floor fight between Obama supporters and disgruntled Clinton supporters might cause a show of disunity at the convention. But Sen. Clinton's speech appears not to have gone as far as Democratic convention organizers hoped in helping to rally the party around Sen. Obama. The roll call will come off without a hitch and Sen. Obama will be nominated. But it is unclear whether Clinton supporters leaving Denver will feel that their candidate received proper treatment; and whether Obama supporters can count on Clinton supporters for help on the campaign trail.

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