Signature-Collection Succeeds to List Clinton in Democratic Nomination

Teams of Hillary Clinton and Obama aides hit the Democratic National Convention Monday night and collected the 300 signatures needed to list Clinton's name in the nomination.

FOXNews.com

Monday, August 25, 2008

Teams of Hillary Clinton and Obama aides hit the Democratic National Convention Monday night and collected the 300 signatures needed to list Clinton's name in the nomination.

The joint effort was designed to be a display of unity to show pro-Clinton delegates that both campaigns want a historic choice between a black man and white woman.

The goal also was to limit a divisive presidential roll call while giving Clinton supporters a limited chance to express their support.

The signature collection grew out of a tactical move to overshadow a rump group of Clinton backers who are still grumpy about the divisive primary. But some Clinton delegates said they still are not interested in a compromise.

"I don't care what she says," said Mary Boergers, a Maryland delegate backing Clinton.

Negotiations continue on how to structure the roll call. A deal could allow some states to cast votes for both candidates before ending the roll call in acclamation for the Illinois senator. Clinton herself may cut off the vote and recommend unanimous nomination of Obama, according to Democratic officials involved in the negotiations.

Advisers have been struggling to solve the mechanics of honoring Clinton without getting bogged down in time-consuming counting.

The deal-making indicates that divisions still exist within the party: Obama does not have full control of the convention but both senators have an incentive to help make peace between their opposing sides -- Obama so he'll have their backing in November and Clinton so she'll be well positioned for a future run.

Clinton herself said she wouldn't tell her backers how to vote, but she told them she would cast her own vote for Obama. "We were not all on the same side as Democrats, but we are now," she said.

Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the eldest child of the late Robert F. Kennedy and a former lieutenant governor of Maryland, said the animosity that some Clinton delegates feel toward Obama "is getting worse."

Townsend, a Maryland delegate, was a strong Clinton supporter but now is fully behind Obama. She said she partly understands why some of her colleagues have not joined her yet.

"There's a moment that you want to enjoy your bitterness," she said.

As part of the compromise in the works for weeks, the New York senator will be the headliner Tuesday night. Her husband, former President Clinton, will speak Wednesday -- part of her request that he be on a separate night, negotiators said.

FOX News' Major Garrett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

 

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