Illinois' Clinton supporters begin to shift toward Obama
DENVER - Following Hillary Clinton's convention speech that urged Democratic unity, most of her Illinois backers are working to close ranks and have already planned a fundraiser for Barack Obama.
Soon after Clinton's speech, it appears at least some of her Illinois supporters have already recast their votes to Obama.
Wearing a circular blue Hillary Clinton sticker, Deborah Mell, a state House nominee, remained puzzled why questions lingered leading into Clinton's speech about the former first lady's commitment to Obama and his candidacy. While Mell wanted to see a Hillary victory in the primaries, she said she will support Obama.
"I would have liked Hillary to be the candidate, obviously, and I think she's done a lot for women, just as far as she's gotten, but I'm Obama all the way," she said.
Jack Franks, a Woodstock Democrat and Clinton supporter, said following the former presidential nominee's speech that he supports Barack Obama and will campaign for him in Midwest states in the coming weeks. But he said he would honor Clinton and the 18 million votes she received in the Democratic primaries by pledging his vote to her.
"She worked too hard not to be recognized and not to have her name placed on the nomination-," Franks said. "It's important that we are able to cast our votes for her and then turn around and cast our votes for Barack Obama."
Kevin O'Keefe, a former Clinton aide, said this week that Hillary will visit Chicago in mid-September to help raise money for Obama. O'Keefe said Clinton already has raised $3 million for the Obama campaign.
Brian McPartlin, head of the Illinois Toll Highway Authority and a Clinton delegate, said he has fully supported Obama since Clinton suspended her campaign. He said Illinois delegates could pull aspects of her speech and apply them to Illinois politics.
"It not only highlighted the struggles she had in her career, she talked about the women's movement, which was critical, and, she also talked about uniting with Barack and moving forward," McPartlin said. "And that's exactly what these delegates need to hear coming out of this convention."