Clinton wins Pennsylvania

Clinton painted her victory as particularly impressive because of her money disadvantage in the state. "We were up against a formidable opponent who outspent us three to one," she said, suggesting that Obama had hoped to score a knockout against her. "Well, the people of Pennsylvania had other ideas," she said.

Clinton also repeated a theme of her campaign that she is ready to lead on day one as commander in chief. "The pressures of the campaign are nothing compared to the pressures of the White House," she said.

"I'm in this race to fight for you, for everyone who's ever been counted out," Clinton told supporters at a rally in Philadelphia, mentioning that Americans are struggling with medical bills, mortgage bills and "the outrageous price of gas."

"You know you can count on me to stand up strong for you every single day in the White House," Clinton said. In an unusually direct appeal for campaign cash, Clinton asked Americans to go to her web site and contribute money. "This is your campaign and this is your victory tonight," she said, but "we can only keep winning if we can keep competing with an opponent who outspends us so massively."

The New York senator also took a veiled swipe at Barack Obama, known for his speeches and his words. "It's high time we stop talking about our problems, and start solving them," she said.

Clinton won her base among women voters, older voters and blue-collar voters, according to exit polls. She also beat Obama among gun owners (58%-42%), white men and voters who made up their minds in the final week.

Obama performed well among young voters, African Americans (92%-8%), those who want change, and well-educated voters. As expected, he won in the Philadelphia area, but his margin of victory in southeast Pennsylvania was not enough to overcome Clinton's strength in other parts of the state.

Although Obama lost the election, the majority of voters in the state (54 percent) think Obama will be the eventual nominee and only 43 percent predict Clinton will win the nomination. But there was troubling news for the Illinois senator as well. A significant percentage of Clinton voters said they would be dissatisfied if Obama won the nomination and would either vote for Senator John McCain or not vote at all.

Clinton had the support of Governor Ed Rendell and Mayor Michael Nutter, among others who campaigned vigorously for her. Responding to Obama's campaign theme, In a speech noted for a number of applause lines, Clinton said the question isn't whether we can change the country but whether we will change the country. She ended her speech with the message, "Yes we will."