A Democratic delegate from Wisconsin is about to find out what happens to apostates from the party.

Washington - As an avid supporter of Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries, Debra Bartoshevich is not alone in her frustration over Clinton’s defeat.

And she’s not entirely alone in saying she’ll vote this fall for Republican John McCain instead.

But what makes her unusual is that she holds these views as an elected delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Denver this summer.

“I’m sure people are going to be upset with me,” said Bartoshevich, a 41-year-old emergency room nurse from Waterford in Racine County, and convention delegate pledged to Clinton.

Joe Wineke, chairman of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, reacted with disbelief when first told Friday afternoon that one of his state party delegates is now a McCain supporter. “Not a delegate? To the national convention?” said Wineke, who was getting ready for the start of the Wisconsin state party convention Friday in Stevens Point.

“We have a Clinton national (convention) delegate who says she’s voting for John McCain?” Wineke repeated, for clarification. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

Wineke said “almost everybody I know who was for Hillary” is solidly behind Obama now. As for Bartoshevich, he said, “my suspicion is she doesn’t know what she’s getting into” because “the delegates to this convention will be very upset.”

UPDATE at 6/15/08 2:39:21 pm:

Now you see her, now you don’t: Delegate Stripped of Position After Pledging to Vote Republican.

The Wisconsin Democratic Party has stripped a woman of her position as delegate to the Democratic National Convention.

That’s after she told a newspaper she would vote for Republican Senator John McCain for President in November.

Last night in Stevens Point, state party members held a unanimous vote to strip Debra Bartoshevich of her delegate status and appoint an alternate for the Denver Convention.