ST. PAUL -- Hillary Clinton on Tuesday tried to replace a question mark about her support of Barack Obama with an exclamation point.
Clinton's effort to drive home her support for Obama, who is to accept the Democratic presidential nomination Thursday, convinced Minnesota supporters to finally accept her defeat.
"Certainly in the Minnesota delegation, I'm not seeing any holdouts," Colleen Nardone of Grand Rapids said.
Nardone said she attended a meeting of about 500 Democratic women Tuesday in Denver, where support for Obama was "overwhelming."
"Whenever Obama's name was announced, there were cheers," she said.
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Mike Sundin, a painter from Esko, was a Clinton delegate but said he supports Obama. He said other Clinton loyalists "will come to realize that the tide has turned and now it's time that we all row in the same direction."
Clinton took the Democratic National Convention spotlight Tuesday night in a much-anticipated speech that ended her campaign to become the first woman major party presidential nominee.
Her speech came on the 88th anniversary of women earning the right to vote. The New York senator shared the stage with other women, including U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, a first-term senator and a speaker the first two nights of the convention.
Some delegates wondered if the Clinton speech and one tonight by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, were their swan songs. But many predicted Americans would hear a lot from them again.
"They are going to continue to be a very influential force in politics for some time to come," Rep. Kent Eken of Twin Valley said.
Sen. Clinton may run for president again, he said.
The Clintons should remain involved in politics and national policy even if this was not their year, Sundin said. He sees a bright legislative future for Hillary Clinton.
"I hope she continues to serve a valuable part in national politics because she has some experience," he said.
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Bill Clinton established himself as a good representative for nonpartisan humanitarian efforts in recent years, Sundin said, adding that he also still is credited with helping create "the economic good fortunes of a lot of people here in the United States" during his eight years in office.
"He'll be respected for that, and he's a crafty politician," Sundin said.
Minnesota delegates predicted the Clintons' speeches will unify Democrats.
Hillary Clinton likely will be nominated Wednesday night, along with Obama, but at some point during the roll call a motion is expected to make the nomination unanimous for the Illinois senator.
About 1,000 Clinton supporters rallied Tuesday in downtown Denver.
