AUSTIN – The contest between Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton divided the Texas Democratic Party almost right down the middle. On Saturday, party officials used the salve of words and the glue of purpose to pull it together again.

HARRY CABLUCK/The Associated Press

Delegates at the Texas Democratic convention Saturday watched Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's concession speech and endorsement of Sen. Barack Obama.

On the last day of the state party convention, 12,000 stalwarts were urged repeatedly to unite behind Mr. Obama and "turn Texas blue" by breaking the Republican lock on statewide offices.

Convention leader Leticia Van de Putte, a state senator from San Antonio and staunch Clinton supporter, began the proceedings by pledging that she would work tirelessly for Mr. Obama.

But she said she recognized how hard it is to put aside passion for a long-held cause and come together for a greater good.

"At some time, the fighting stops," Ms. Van de Putte said. Mentioning that she has six kids, she mischievously added, "As my husband, Pete, likes to say, 'Ooh, the makeup sex is really good.' "

Sen. Royce West of Dallas went so far as to tell the crowd, festooned with Obama T-shirts and Hillary signs in the cavernous hall, that they should stand and hold hands.

As Mr. West joined hands with party leaders onstage, many from South Texas districts that overwhelmingly voted for Mrs. Clinton, the delegates clasped hands above their heads and cheered their momentary unity.

Added U.S. Rep. Charlie Gonzalez of San Antonio, "United, we can. Divided, John McCain."

The final caucus results announced Saturday – the last in the nation to be tallied – showed just how close the Democratic battle in Texas was.

Overall, Mr. Obama won the state with 99 delegates to Mrs. Clinton's 94. Mrs. Clinton led in the delegates awarded in the primary voting – 65-61 – but Mr. Obama triumphed in the caucuses held the night of the primary – 38-29.

For many who fought in the trenches, Mrs. Clinton's concession speech and the final tally made the race officially over.

"I'd follow Hillary into hell," said state delegate Rachel Baker Ford of Garland. "But I am a Democrat, and I will support the Democratic Party. It is a matter of unity."

That theme ran through the day, beginning in the early morning, when Democrats heard from Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of Lady Bird and President Johnson. She said siblings quibble but families come together.

"I was there when my father signed the Voting Rights Act," she said, going on to say her mother and father would have been proud to witness a woman and a black man competing for the Democratic nomination. Now, she said, it's time to work for Mr. Obama.

Party chairman Boyd Richie said getting Obama and Clinton supporters together and looking toward November was the overwhelming theme of the Austin meeting.

"If we have begun to heal the party at this convention, it will have been an unqualified success," Mr. Richie said.