After a hard-fought contest, at mydd and elsewhere, we see some Clinton supporters who have decided to back the nominee and others who are unsure or who are saying that they won't.

Nationally, there appears to be signs that the party is starting to unify.  Rasmussen reports today:

http://rasmussenreports.com/public_conte nt/politics/election_20082/2008_presiden tial_election/daily_presidential_trackin g_poll
The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll for Sunday shows Barack Obama's bounce growing to an eight-point lead over John McCain. Obama now attracts 48% of the vote while McCain earns 40%.  On Tuesday, just before Obama clinched the nomination, the candidates were tied at 46%.

This shift -- from a tie to an 8 point Obama lead -- has occurred because Democrats are coming together.

Obama's bounce is the result of growing unity among the Democratic Party. Eighty-one percent (81%) of Democrats say they will vote for Obama over McCain. That's the highest level of party support ever enjoyed by Obama.

Frankly, this shift is faster than I thought it would be. Will the party continue to consolidate?  One reason why they might is that, as Rasmussen found, people don't actually know much about McCain.

Think about that: Although McCain has been a nationally known political figure longer than Obama, folks don't know that much about him. I'd bet that as people learn that last year that he voted with Bush 95% of the time on Bush's top legislative initiatives (according to National Journal) and that he is firmly anti-choice, his numbers will drop.

I'm a former Clinton supporter who switched to Obama back in January. I'm a 50 year old woman, a life-long feminist, and the mother of two fabulous kids.  I have friends who worked for Clinton and who supported her all the way.  But these friends and I are focused on how the election will affect our lives and those of our children. Again, I understand that for some Clinton supporters, they need to process all that has happened.

This is a time of opportunity for Democrats to take control of the White House and to promote the policies and values we share. I hope we can acknowledge the feelings of Clinton supporters who are not feeling good right now and can leave the door wide, wide open to them, as we talk about why this election matters to our lives.