Clinton supporters in focus as Democrats meet

DENVER (Reuters) - Linda Tucker is the sort of woman who is getting a lot of attention this week at the Democratic convention.

A supporter of defeated presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, she's considering Republican John McCain in the November 4 election rather than her party's choice, Barack Obama.

"The truth is, I'm just bitter that Clinton didn't get the nomination. Once again, the black man has got something before any woman did. Sexism is alive and well in this country," said Tucker, 54, a Denver graduate student and sociology teacher.

"I'm going to change my affiliation from Democrat to independent until I decide" who to vote for at the November presidential election, she said.

Fresh polls showing more than a fourth of Clinton backers say they will abandon party loyalty and vote for McCain in the November 4 election have clouded the Democratic convention, where Obama is set to be named the party's presidential nominee.

But some Clinton delegates say the bitterness of a few is being blown out of proportion to fuel media intrigue and Republican mischief-making about a divided Democratic party just as the election campaign heats up.

"There will be people who leave this convention saying they will vote for McCain, and that's what the media is going to focus on," said Kath Delaney, a convention delegate and Clinton supporter. "But the majority is putting aside the personalities of this convention and we'll focus on winning the election."

Even Delaney is going to make a symbolic stand for Clinton at the nominating gathering on Wednesday in Denver, casting an early ballot for Clinton before throwing her support to Obama, who would be the first black U.S. president.

"I'm going to do the symbolic gesture," said Delaney, 47, a nonprofit consultant from California.

"To not honor the 18 million people who voted for Clinton (in the Democratic nominating contests) would be a disservice," she said. "But then I will work very hard for Senator Obama and we will elect a Democratic president."

BITTER STRUGGLE

Clinton conceded to Obama in early June after a bitter Democratic primary struggle that saw the former first lady, once considered a near-certainty to win the nomination, overcome by the soaring oratory and inspirational leadership of Obama, a first-term senator and relative political newcomer.

The agony of women who had hoped to see the election of America's first female president quickly became part of the narrative of the Democratic nominating process. The months-old wound was reopened last week when Obama chose Sen. Joe Biden, rather than Clinton, as his vice presidential running mate.

While Clinton was considered a long-shot for the second slot, some supporters felt she had again been slighted by being overlooked for serious consideration.

"There was bound to be some lingering feelings after such a tough primary, and (news that) she was not vetted for the VP position," said Janelle Wong, a political science professor at the University of Southern California.

But Wong is skeptical many Clinton supporters will really vote for McCain, whose politics are more conservative than those of either Clinton or Obama on virtually every issue.

The vocal Democratic dissidents, she believes, are simply venting their frustrations while the spotlight is shining.

"I think they will support Obama in the end. It's still early and there is no real consequence to saying they are supporting McCain. As the stakes get higher and the election approaches, we'll see more of a switch to Obama," she said.

Far from settling the matter, Clinton's own endorsement of Obama has only complicated the party's internal divide, with some Democrats insisting the New York senator has given only tepid encouragement to her followers to switch to Obama.

"She mouthed the right words, but she hedged," said Nancy Kassop, an Obama supporter from New York after attending a speech where Clinton urged supporters to unite behind Obama.

Clinton is set to give a prime-time speech on Tuesday night in which she is expected to once again stress the need to unite behind Obama to defeat McCain.

Valerie Katich, 52, a one-time Clinton supporter who has already shifted her support to Obama, said she is counting on Clinton to convince her followers to give up their campaign.

"The ball is in her court, she's the only one who can convince them," said Katich, a retired secretary from Denver.

For some, Clinton's unity plea may not be enough.

"I will absolutely not vote for Obama," said Sandra Wade, a 67-year-old property manager from California who was attending a women's forum in Denver and trying to get into the Democratic convention to hear Clinton speak.

"I know I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I want McCain to win," said Wade. "That way Hillary can have another chance (at the presidency) in 2012."

(Reporting by Andrea Hopkins, editing by David Wiessler)