by Kaley Lyon, FHSU
DENVER — About 14 years ago, when pregnant with her daughter, Etta Walker had the opportunity to meet Hillary Clinton.
Monday afternoon, Walker''s daughter, Catherine, now a teenager, also had the chance to shake hands with the former first lady and presidential candidate.
"I was really happy," 14-year-old Catherine said. "I said I was never going to wash that hand again."
This pledge, however, soon was forgotten — she washed her hands a few hours later, she said.
Etta Walker is a resident of Sharon Springs, and is serving as a Kansas delegate at the Democratic National Convention.
She brought her daughter as a guest this week, and the two have been busy enjoying all the activities the convention has to offer.
"It''s a wonderful opportunity," Etta Walker said. "I wish everyone could have this opportunity."
Walker is one of about 10 Kansas delegates pledged to Clinton, and while Clinton has endorsed her competitor, Sen. Barack Obama, Walker — like other Clinton delegates — said she still intends to cast her vote as originally planned.
This is because she was appointed in both her State Senate district and congressional district by Clinton supporters to vote for their candidate, she said.
"We''re obligated to vote as we were chosen," Walker said. "I am a Clinton delegate. I''m not just a delegate who can come here and see what I think."
There has been much discussion about whether Clinton''s name will appear in the delegate''s roll-call vote, to be announced this evening.
Clinton had plans to meet with delegates pledged to support her campaign this afternoon.
Ultimately, however, Walker said she has no doubt that the party will unite behind the victorious candidate.
In fact, when Clinton gave her speech at a caucus event Monday, she urged attendees to rally support for Obama, Walker said.
"She gave this rousing speech, clearly telling the people in the caucus that they must come out for Obama, they must work to get people to vote in November, that this is about taking over the White House," she said.
