State-Journal.com - Democrats say they'll unite behind Obama despite rivalry

Local supporters of Democratic Presidential candidates Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have begun the healing process.

Clinton won Kentucky's May 20 primary 65.5 percent to Obama's 30 percent. She also carried Franklin County by a similarly wide margin.

But now, key supporters in both factions say it's time to come together and prepare for the general election on Nov. 4.

Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee and the Democratic national convention is Aug. 25 " 28 in Denver. He will face the Republican's assumed nominee John McCain after the Republican convention
on Sept. 1 " 4 in Minneapolis " St. Paul.

Clinton and Obama entered the presidential primary more than a year ago and were engaged in a close race for pledged delegates and superdelegates. The race was some times heated, and at one point Obama said Clinton was a divisive figure in the Democratic Party.

Obama claimed victory in June, with 2,253 delegates. Clinton had 1,892, which was short of the 2,119 delegates necessary to secure the party's nomination.

Sen. Julian Carroll, D-Frankfort, has known the Clintons since he was governor and supported her campaign. However, he said it didn't take long for him to come around and support Obama.

"I was never really against Obama that strongly," Carroll said. "I am confident he is a fully qualified candidate for president. He is undoubtedly the most intelligent candidate for president since Jack Kennedy."

Clinton would be an excellent running mate, Carroll said, and Obama will need her help to win in Kentucky. Her husband Bill was the last Democratic presidential candidate to carry Kentucky.

President Bush edged John Kerry in Franklin County in 2004 51 percent to 49 percent. Overall, Bush won Kentucky by a margin of 60-40.

In 2000, Vice President Al Gore topped Bush in Franklin County by only 600 votes. Overall, Gore lost Kentucky 57-41.

"There is no question Kentucky will be a difficult state for the Democrats," Carroll said.

In the wake of the primary contests, a number of Democrats said they would vote for McCain if Obama is nominated. However, Carroll said those statements were probably based on emotions and made in the heat of the moment.

"I don't see voters changing their whole philosophy to vote for someone who in no way reflects their personal views," Carroll said. "I don't think we'll lose a lot of Democrats to McCain."

Retired Franklin Circuit Judge Bill Graham supported Obama and said although many people in Franklin County were strong supporters of the Clintons there will be a unified Democratic party in November.

"A lot of them were disappointed," he said. "I think they need some time to heal and I think that's happening. Some people have said they just need a little more time."

The Franklin County Democratic executive committee is expected to meet on Tuesday to begin planning a unity rally later this summer. Graham said the healing process has already begun with several casual or informal meetings between the two factions at private residences.

Graham said he recently attended one such meeting during a weekend brunch and said it was "very congenial."

"Everybody expressed an interest in getting to work," he said.

The two candidates also recently made efforts to put aside their differences at a rally in Unity, N.H. Bill Clinton referred to Obama as "a stand-up guy" and he said she "rocks."

Obama and his wife Michelle also pledged $4,600, the maximum contribution allowed, to help pay Hillary Clinton's $22 million campaign debt.

However, Graham said that probably won't have much impact locally because voters in Franklin County are sophisticated.

"Many of them work in government, care about government and understand the important role government plays," he said. "The issues are important to them."

Long-time Democratic activist Sallye Hill-Stumbo supported Clinton and said it's never any fun to lose.

"I found out about losing when my father ran for Congress," she said. "It always takes time to get over a loss."

However, she said she expects Democrats to rally in support of Obama during the general election. Any promises to vote for McCain instead of Obama were probably emotional reactions to a tough loss, Stumbo said.

There have already been meetings between Clinton and Obama supporters and Stumbo said they were very positive.

"We talked about what we need to do to get all the worker bees in the county organized," she said.

Magistrate Jill Robinson supported Obama and said she has also already participated in a unity event held at a private residence recently. The group watched videos on the Internet and some former Clinton supporters even made contributions to Obama's campaign.

"It's important to start mending the fences," Robinson said. "Some people are ready to jump on the
boat right away but nobody is shoving anything down anybody's throat. We want people to come around when they're comfortable."

Robinson recalled the 1972 presidential election when some Democrats refused to refer to George McGovern, the party's nominee who lost to Richard Nixon, by his name. Instead, they referred to McGovern as "the top of the ticket."

"We can't allow that to happen again," Robinson said.

Other plans include organizing a new downtown campaign headquarters, which Robinson said will be "visible."

Other notable Clinton supporters include developer Michael Davenport, Rep. Carl Rollins, D-Midway, and former magistrate Harold Robinson. Obama supporters include attorney Bryan Hix and Libby Marshall.

The Associated Press contributed to this article.