Sen. Hillary Clinton can win votes from delegates at the convention even if her name isn't placed in nomination.

WASHINGTON (CNN) - If Sen. Hillary Clinton's name is placed in nomination in Denver, Colorado, this year, it wouldn't be the first time that a candidate was beaten in the primaries and still formally contested the nomination at the convention.

But it would be the first time in the modern era of presidential primaries that a losing candidate has so visibly endorsed an opponent so many months before the convention, and then gone on to have his or her name placed in nomination.

CNN Election Center: Who will be Obama's VP

Clinton can still win votes from delegates at the Democratic National Convention even if her name is not placed in nomination. Delegates are free to vote for anyone they want to at the convention.

At past conventions, delegates have even been known to vote for fictional characters (Archie Bunker) and dead people (George Orwell).

It's likely that Clinton will pick up some votes unless Sen. Barack Obama is nominated by acclamation.

Full story