Hillary supporters to fight 'all the way'

Denver: Brenda Krause is tired of fear mongering among the Democrats.

The 55-year-old delegate to the Democratic National Convention doesn't think the party - or its unity - is in any way compromised by her voting for Hillary Clinton at the convention roll call.

When Clinton dropped out of the race, Krause was disappointed that her generation likely isn't going to see a woman claim the Oval Office. She vowed to stick with the New York senator.

"I'm not going to be coerced into something I don't believe in," said Krause, who lives in Colorado Springs, and owns a real estate office. "That makes me less unified. If they let me have my voice, I'll feel more unified."

So go the voices of dozens of national delegates across the country, pledged to Clinton, who say they are flummoxed about what to do when they are asked to cast a vote in a few weeks. Though the majority of the Democratic Party backs Barack Obama, an undercurrent of staunch and loyal Clinton supporters say they'll fight all the way to the convention, which begins in Denver in 18 days, to put her name on the ballot.

Jenny Backus, a senior Obama adviser and convention liaison in Denver, said Obama and Clinton delegates across the country have forged ties.

"Clinton will obviously play a critical role during this convention," Backus said. "Already we've seen a tremendous reaching out. I've heard of Obama delegates going to Clinton debt-reduction parties."

But for many Clinton delegates, it is about principle. Because they were chosen by her supporters in districts across the country, many say they won't feel like they fulfilled their duty until they cast a vote for her.

"I will come on board the unity train with a first class ticket if, before doing so, I get the opportunity to vote for my candidate," said Daniel Kagan, a Colorado delegate.

"On August 28, when Obama accepts the nomination, I will be there cheering along with the rest of them, but only if I have had the chance to vote first."

Kagan is among a small group of people working to garner 300 signatures from national delegates to complete Democratic National Committee rule requirements to put Clinton's name back on the ballot.

But even if they get enough signatures, Clinton must agree to have her name placed on the ballot.

Rules of the convention require a roll call vote, and stipulate that "delegates may vote for the candidate of their choice whether or not the name of such candidate was placed in nomination." The national committee can decide how to handle those votes.

Clinton has said in YouTube postings and in a Web chat on Thursday that she is working with the Democratic National Committee and the Obama campaign to find a solution. Texas delegate Linda Figueroa said the pledged Clinton supporters were told in a delegate conference call this week that they would not get to vote for her.