For Roanoke City Councilwoman Gwen Mason, Salem High School senior Kim Foster and 18 million other Hillary Clinton supporters, their candidate's historic run for president was supposed to end differently.

But after a bruising battle of primaries, caucuses, spousal gaffes, errant preachers, debates, denouncements and rejections, Clinton stood before the world Saturday and acknowledged her loss and Barack Obama's victory.

I wasn't on Clinton's bandwagon, but her exit was a graceful one that celebrated diversity and inclusiveness. Her speech underscored the role of her candidacy in history and provided a powerful endorsement of her opponent. It reassured her supporters and rallied them to transfer their allegiance from her to her opponent.

"I did not watch her speech, but I sure read about it," Mason said Monday afternoon.

"She exhibited what she found in her opponent -- grit and grace," the city councilwoman said, employing the words Clinton had used during her speech to characterize Obama.

Mason was supposed to introduce Clinton at a rally in February at Patrick Henry High School, but it was postponed because the New York senator's plane couldn't land because of high winds. Instead Mason introduced Bill Clinton, who came the next day on his wife's behalf.

Kim Foster slept late Saturday and got out of bed just in time to catch Hillary Clinton's speech.

"She explained how she felt about the situation," the 18-year-old said Monday as she took a break from government class.

The senior talked about what she came away with from Clinton's speech, "how she wanted to be the presidential candidate ... how we should vote for him because we need a Democrat" in the White House.

Someone asked me after the speech whether I believed Clinton was sincere in her support of Obama.

It's a relevant question, given Clinton's reputation for ruthlessness and her campaign's win-at-all-costs tactics against the Illinois senator.

But her candidacy also proved her to be someone who understands -- even if belatedly -- that this campaign is about more than building on the Clinton legacy.

That said, she left millions of angry and disappointed supporters in her wake. Will they listen to her and throw their support to Obama in November?

Or as has been suggested, will they defect to McCain's camp?

The majority of Clinton's supporters will vote for Obama, University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato speculated.

"Frequently, voters whose candidate lost in the primaries claim they will not vote for the victorious candidate five months ahead of time. But by November most, though not all, have returned to the fold," Sabato said.

"The pull of partisan identification is very strong -- stronger than most people realize. I can't put a number on it yet, but I'd wager the vast majority of Clinton supporters will cast a ballot for Obama by Election Day."

Foster, who is black, said she will do as Clinton urged and support Obama.

She said his candidacy "shows that we're smart, too."

But Clinton was Foster's first choice because "she had more experience than him. She's just a beast. She's been through a lot."

Mason also cited Clinton's experience.

"I value her experience," the councilwoman said. "She's been waiting in line an awful long time.

"I felt sort of an instant rapport with her," Mason said, ticking off Clinton's pet issues, including early childhood education.

As a politician, Mason said she understands that someone must win and someone must lose campaigns.

"I'm disappointed but not devastated," she added of Clinton's defeat.

Mason was more coy when asked whether she would heed Clinton's plea for her backers to support Obama.

She said she was "burned out" from the lengthy Democratic primary, coupled with the local city council election.

"I'm taking a summer vacation and grappling with it in the months to come," she said, "but I'm a Democrat by DNA." She added that Obama was a nominee the party could be proud of.

Voters will determine that come November.

Shanna Flowers' column appears Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.

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