The presidential primary race between New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama has split some Rhode Island Democratic households, including one of the most revered of party elders, the Pells of Newport.

Former U.S. Sen. Claiborne Pell, who was first elected to that post in 1960, is someone so well-liked by Rhode Island voters that he never lost an election, even defeating the late John H. Chafee, a former Rhode Island governor, U.S. Secretary of the Navy and later senator, in a 1972 race. Pell retired from the Senate in 1996.

Pell, 89, has been suffering from Parkinson’s disease for years and no longer speaks in public.

But his wife, Nuala Pell, is a spry 84 and often attends political events, most recently Wednesday’s speech at the Providence Biltmore by Michelle Obama. Mrs. Pell is a member of Rhode Island Women for Obama and is voting for the Illinois senator.

Mrs. Pell said yesterday that her husband has voted by shut-in ballot for Clinton. “He can’t get to the polls,” she said. “But he worked with [former President] Bill Clinton and he really likes Hillary Clinton.”

Mrs. Pell said she is a bit more focused on the future and believes Obama would make a good president for the 21st century.

The Hillary Clinton campaign has announced the details of the senator’s campaign visit to Rhode Island on Sunday. Clinton will attend a “Solutions for America” rally at Rhode Island College. The doors open at 11:30 a.m.; the program begins at 1:30 p.m.