Posted on May 6

INDIANAPOLIS - Speaking to a divided crowd of almost 3,000 Indiana Democrats Sunday, Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean and presidential candidates Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama said if a Democrat were to defeat presumptive Republican nominee John McCain in the fall, the party would need to unite.

The Indiana Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner, held at the Indiana Convention Center Sunday, came just before the state votes today.

Clinton, the first of the three to speak, started her talk by reminding voters that regardless of what happens in November, they can "breathe a sigh or relief" knowing that President Bush leaves office in January.

After running through an accelerated version of her stump speech, Clinton brought the crowd to its feet by explaining her gratitude for Americans who pushed for social progress.

"Because of them, I grew up taking for granted that women could vote," she said. "Because of them, my daughter took for granted that children of all colors could attend school together . And because of them, and because of you, the next generation will grow up taking for granted that a woman or an African-American can be the president of the United States."

Dean spoke after Clinton and encouraged the audience to stand behind whoever won the nomination.

"The truth is, the only thing that can stop us from winning the presidency is ourselves," he said. "We need to support whichever candidate wins the nomination."

Obama, also giving a shortened version of his stump speech, concluded the dinner. As Obama took the stage, his supporters, who took up about two-thirds of the room, applauded and cheered "Yes we can!" for almost a minute, drawing annoyed stares from Clinton supporters across from them.

In the last few minutes of his talk, Obama echoed Clinton and Dean's comments, saying the party needed to mend its fences.

"I know that some of you all probably feel dispirited about the length of this primary," he said. "I am absolutely convinced that Sen. Clinton and I share the same values and that we are interested in moving this country forward and bettering the Democratic Party. The question is, do we shed our cynicism and our doubts and reach for what we know is right?"

By the end of Obama's speech, some Clinton supporters seemed to warm up to him, clapping whenever he said something they strongly agreed with. For other Clinton supporters, though, it was too late for them to clap. Rather than stay to hear Obama speak, they left as he approached the podium.