Obama supporters rally in Woodstock
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By Josh O'Gorman Herald Staff - Published: August 12, 2008
WOODSTOCK — A pair of prominent politicians and supporters of Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign urged Clinton supporters to support Democratic candidate Barack Obama during a rally Sunday night.
About 70 people turned out for the United for Change Potluck Supper at the Woodstock Firehouse, where Madeleine Kunin, former governor, and Gaye Symington, democratic gubernatorial candidate, urged the crowd to back Obama's bid for the White House.
"The whole idea is to unite the Barack-Clinton wings of the party and get somebody in Washington who will bring change and end the war," said event organizer Bob Williamson.
As democrats piled their plates with pasta, meats and salad, Symington circulated with potential voters and discussed her newfound support for Obama.
"I was an early supporter of Hillary Clinton's, but I'm here tonight to help unite people to bring real change," Symington said.
Event organizer Joanne Boyle said Woodstock's rally was "part of a national effort and we felt we should bring everyone together."
A former employee of the Obama campaign, Boyle said she spent several weeks going door-to-door in White River Junction campaigning for Obama.
If March's Democratic primary was any indication, Vermont is less divided than other states in its support for Obama, when he beat Clinton by more than 20 points.
"I haven't heard of a lot of division here," said state Sen. Richard J. McCormack, D-Windsor. "I think the party here is unified. I've lived my life less than 100 percent satisfied with my own party. Sooner or later, you have to unify behind your faction."
While Symington's address was less a plea for party unity than a stump speech on her own behalf, she did implore voters to embrace Obama.
Kunin, the author of the recently published book, "Pearls, Politics and Power: How Women can Lead and Win" and former chair of Clinton's statewide election campaign, spoke at greater length about the need for Clinton supporters to back Obama.
"Somebody gave me a button recently, which I didn't wear tonight," Kunin said. "It says, 'Hillary supports Obama, and so do I.'"
Kunin noted that after the Clinton campaign there was a period of mourning, "and I think we were entitled to that," she said, but it was now time to back Obama.
"Vermont is a kind of Shangri-La, but when you travel outside the state you realize not everybody agrees with us," Kunin said.
"Some people are saying, 'maybe he's gone too far. Maybe he shouldn't have given up public financing.' But, you never get everything you want and he has to appeal to a broad base," Kunin said. "As a former Hillary supporter, I support Barack Obama, and I don't support him because Hillary does but because I know he will be great for the United States of America."
Contact Josh O'Gorman at josh.ogorman@rutlandherald.com.
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