PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island Democrats are among Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton’s strongest supporters — she won the state’s March 4 primary over Sen. Barack Obama by 19 percentage points — but even among her local stalwarts, the feeling is sinking in that the party’s presidential nomination is very likely going to Obama.

William Lynch, state Democratic chairman, convention superdelegate and prominent Clinton supporter, said yesterday that after Tuesday’s primary defeat in North Carolina and the virtual draw in the Indiana contest, it appears Obama will win.

Lynch’s comments came hours before Democratic National Chairman Howard Dean visited Providence for a private dinner meeting with leading Democrats at a Federal Hill restaurant.

“It is going to go to him … it certainly feels that way right now,” said Lynch yesterday, adding that he speaks often with other party leaders from around the country. “My opinion on this is not unique.”

“I’m a Hillary Clinton supporter,” Lynch said. “But people are now focusing on the fact that it is time to take a deep breath and start focusing on the fact that there is an election in November.”

Lynch said he would never presume to tell Clinton when to fold her tent, but said the party should settle on a candidate “sooner rather than later” and at any rate, well before the Democratic National Convention in late August.

Continuing a negative campaign that highlights the differences between Obama and Clinton can only help Republicans in the run-up to the November general election, Lynch said.

“Some of us are growing concerned with the demographics of the primary voters and being divided along uncomfortable lines that nobody wants to talk about,” said Lynch.

So far in primaries, Obama has done better with African-Americans, younger voters and voters with college educations. Clinton has done better with white voters, older voters and Roman Catholic voters.

In an interview published yesterday, Clinton said, “I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on … Sen. Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening.”

In an interview, Dean reiterated his stance that he is urging the so-called superdelegates — the party activists and elected officials who have votes at the Democratic National Convention — to announce their decision by July 1.

“I don’t think I can end the process before the last voter has their say,” said Dean, referring to the six contests remaining.

Dean said yesterday he was confident that both candidates would tone down negative campaigning over the next few weeks and get ready to unify the party to compete with the Republican’s presumptive nominee, Arizona Sen. John McCain. “I think the candidates have gotten the message and are looking at the end of the campaign,” said Dean.

Dean says he is confident that McCain’s positions on supporting the Iraq war, which is very unpopular in New England, and his stances on health care and the economy will help doom his campaign. “John McCain is not a very strong candidate,” said Dean.

Still, some local Clinton supporters said yesterday that she should fight on and take the battle to the floor of the national convention. “She’s going to win,” said Mark Weiner of East Greenwich, the longtime Clinton confidante and major party fundraiser.

“It is all about electability. Look at the big states, look at the states with the most electoral votes,” said Weiner. “She has won all of them.”

Weiner was referring to states such as New York, California New Jersey, Massachusetts — all linchpins in Democratic presidential victories.

Weiner said that as long as she has a chance to win and as long as there is no settlement to disputes over seating delegates from Florida and Michigan, Clinton should take her fight for her party’s nomination to the convention floor.

Other Rhode Island superdelegates supporting Clinton include Frank Montanaro of Cranston, the president of the Rhode Island AFL-CIO and the Democratic national committeeman.

“I’m with Hillary Clinton as long as she is running,” said Montanaro. “I made a commitment to her and I’m loyal.”

Said Edna O’Neill Mattson, the Democratic National Committeewoman and a Clinton supporter, “June is going to be the magic month, the month of decision.”

Mattson, too, said she believed Obama is probably on his way to victory.

Among those at the dinner last night, held at Providence Prime Restaurant, were Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts, former Providence Mayor Joseph R. Paolino Jr., current Mayor David N. Cicilline, Alan Hassenfeld, a business leader, Lynch, Chris Vitale, a leading Democratic lobbyist and fundraiser, state Sen. Leonidas Raptakis, D-Coventry, and Democratic activist Susan Weiner, wife of Mark Weiner.

Dean, the former Vermont governor who is no stranger to Rhode Island — he attended prep school at St. George’s, in Middletown — was in the state to drum up support for a big Democratic party fundraiser to be held somewhere in the state this fall.

“We’re trying to get a little money out of Rhode Island,” said Dean.Where they stand

Here’s a look at Rhode Island’s 11 Democratic superdelegates and which candidate each supports for their party’s presidential nomination.

For Clinton

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse

Rep. Jim Langevin

William J. Lynch State Party chairman

Edna O’Neill Mattson State Party vice-chair

Frank Montanaro President, Rhode Island AFL-CIO

David N. Cicilline Mayor of Providence

Grace Diaz State representative

Mark S. Weiner Democratic Party fundraiser

For Obama

Rep. Patrick Kennedy

Patrick Lynch

Attorney General

Uncommitted

Sen. Jack Reed

smackay@projo.com