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With their national party gathering in Denver starting today to nominate Sen. Barack Obama for president, local Democrats are hoping a fragile peace between Obama and Sen. Hillary Clinton holds.

Clinton, who ran a fierce primary campaign against Obama, has promised to support him and unify the party.

But her name is going to be put into nomination and some of her supporters are insisting on demonstrating at the convention and will not back Obama.

Clinton is scheduled to address the convention on Tuesday.

The situation has the potential to embarrass Obama and divide the party. Joe Kaplan of Mansfield, a delegate to the convention, said he supported Clinton, but hopes the party will rally around Obama.

"I think a lot of Hillary Clinton supporters want to show some strength. I can see why. But, by the time people leave the convention they will rally around the nominee," he said.

State Sen. Joan Menard, D-Fall River, was also a Clinton supporter.

She said many of her backers believe Clinton was mistreated and harshly criticized by the media because she is a woman. Some of those wounds from the primaries have not healed, she said.

However, at a meeting four weeks ago, Clinton made it clear she was now supporting Obama, and asked her supporters to do the same, Menard said.

"I'm hoping people are ready and willing to work for Obama," she said.

She said she would prefer Clinton's name not be put into nomination, but since it will be, her only hope is Clinton will release her delegates to support Obama.

Menard said the situation has the potential for trouble, but she is hoping it will not embarrass Obama.

"If it's done the right way, it won't do that," she said.

Clinton critics have charged that she and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, are hurting Obama by trying to steal the spotlight and risk undermining his support. They point out that other contenders have graciously backed out of the campaign without making demands of Obama.

Even Leon Panetta, President Clinton's former chief of staff, said Clinton supporters seem to have a sense of "entitlement."

But local party activists who are not going to the convention said they were confident everything would work out fine.

Ellen Parker of Attleboro, a member of the Democratic State Committee who supported Clinton, said she believes putting Clinton's name into nomination will be a good thing.

She said Obama has had "a tough time with some women" because of his defeat of Clinton, and putting her name into nomination will be a chance to recognize her accomplishments.

"I really don't see a problem with it. I see more positive with it. I think she deserves it. She was the first woman to come this far," she said.

State Sen. James Timilty, D-Walpole, is also staying home, but he is following the presidential campaign closely.

He said Clinton ran a tough campaign and she is entitled to be acknowledged at the convention.

"I think somebody who put that much effort into campaigning for president should deserve her time there. It can help the party," he said.

JIM HAND covers politics for The Sun Chronicle. He can be reached at 508-236-0399 or at jhand@thesunchronicle.com.