Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will tell her pledged delegates on Wednesday that they can vote for presidential hopeful Barack Obama at this week’s convention, several of her supporters said today.
Legally, delegates from 10 states who are elected to support a certain candidate are obliged to vote for that person, even if he or she isn’t running for president anymore. The rest of the state delegates can technically vote for whomever they want at the roll call.
By taking this action, Clinton is freeing up her pledged delegates in those states from their legal obligations.
Still many crestfallen Clinton delegates said Sunday they were still going to vote for her.
“I don’t want my grandchildren’s history teacher tell them that in 2008, Hillary Clinton ran a fairly strong race but then lost all her support when it came down to the final hurdle,” said Daniel Kagan, a Clinton delegate from Denver. “What she is saying is that she is no longer asking you to vote for me.”
A Clinton aide said the Wednesday reception at the Colorado Convention Center will be a chance for her to thank her delegates and encourage them to work to elect the Illinois senator.
Many Democrats have wondered how the Clinton and Obama camps will present a united party.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
