Defiant Clinton ponders options

Inside the cavernous sports hall at Baruch college in Manhattan, the mood among Hillary Clinton's supporters was subdued and distinctly sombre.

"Hillary, our nominee," they chanted - but without the wild enthusiasm that has characterised other gatherings of her faithful I have been at.

I Won't Back Down was the song blaring out of the loudspeakers - fitting the mood of the crowd precisely.

One woman who has been on the road with the campaign told me this had been a historic candidacy.

She said she hoped Mrs Clinton would fight on to the convention - as the way the Michigan delegates had been awarded was unfair.

Just then American networks began projecting that Barack Obama had enough super-delegates to become the democratic party nominee.

Then the low-key atmosphere began to lift, as the blue curtain to the side of the official stage twitched, a clear sign Hillary Clinton was on her way.

Under pressure

So what now?

Will Hillary Clinton really try and persuade the Democratic Party's super-delegates that she has won the most votes even though Barack Obama has won the most delegates?

Or is she simply waiting for a moment of her own choosing to bow out?

She has a day or so to exert influence, perhaps to bargain for the vice-presidential slot.

But before too long the pressure for her to concede and endorse Mr Obama will grow.

Nothing in this campaign has been predictable, so it is fitting that the end should not be either.

As Terry McAuliffe told me as he left the room, Mr Obama has the most delegates, but she has the most votes.

She conceded nothing tonight, he underlined.