US - Back in the game:Hillary Clinton proves she may be down but not out with vital win in Pennsylvania Outspent three to one, this primary was make or break for Clinton, writes Denis Stauntonin Philadelphia
THE SCENE in the grand ballroom of Philadelphia's Bellevue Hotel on Tuesday night had become a familiar one - anxious supporters watching early returns on giant screens under the eager scrutiny of dozens of reporters on Hillary Clinton death watch.
Unlike most Clinton events, this one had a cash bar, so the crowd was more voluble than usual, but the anxiety seemed more acute than ever. In Pennsylvania, it wasn't going to be enough for Clinton to win, she had to win big - by at least 8 per cent, according to conventional media wisdom.
When polls closed at 8pm and the television networks described the race as too "competitive" to project a winner, a chill went through the ballroom and the press room lightened up. Thirty minutes later, however, a beaming Terry McAuliffe, Clinton's campaign chairman, arrived to crow about Barack Obama's failure to vanquish the former first lady.
"We were outspent three to one. They threw multiple kitchen sinks at us in negative mailings, negative television and, you know what, she still won. He came in as a frontrunner. Why can't he beat us in these big, important states?" he said.
Clinton still faces huge odds, not the least of which is that her campaign is effectively broke, while Obama is sitting on a pile of cash and raising more than $1 million on the internet every day.
McAuliffe said a flood of donations was already coming in on the strength of the Pennsylvania result, so Clinton would remain competitive in North Carolina and Indiana on May 6th.
"We'll be able to raise the money to get our message out," he said. "This was a big media market. The next media markets aren't all that big in the sense of cost. So we'll be fine on that."
Inside the ballroom they were playing the soundtrack of Rocky, the film about a fictional Philadelphia boxer Clinton identifies with, and one young supporter donned a pair of red boxing gloves. Others waved signs saying "Hilladelphia" or "Today I voted for the first woman president. How's that for change?"
Valerie Duhaime had come to Philadelphia from Florida, where Clinton won a primary in January, but the Democratic National Committee is refusing to acknowledge the vote because the local party broke the rules by scheduling the vote too early.
Clinton's supporters argue that Florida's result should be recognised because, although none of the candidates campaigned in the state, their names were on the ballot.
"This is going to breathe new life into the Florida debate because this state mirrors Florida in many ways," Duhaime said.
"I think you're seeing a trend of Hillary winning the big, important states." While we were talking, Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down, which has become an anthem for the embattled Clinton campaign, started blaring, and suddenly the candidate was at the podium, joined by her husband, her daughter and her mother, and prominent local supporters like Gov Ed Rendell and Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter.
"It's a long road to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and it runs right through the heart of Pennsylvania," Clinton declared.
"For six weeks Senator Obama and I have criss-crossed this state, meeting people up close, being judged side by side, making our best case. You listened and today you chose."
Clinton spoke for a minute about her family ties to Pennsylvania and her determination to fight for working families, but before long she got down to business with a fund-raising appeal.
"We can only keep winning if we can keep competing with an opponent who outspends us so massively. So I hope you'll go to HillaryClinton.com and show your support tonight because the future of this campaign is in your hands," she said.
"Some people counted me out and said to drop out, but the American people don't quit and they deserve a president who doesn't quit either."
Clinton was hoarse after all the campaigning in recent days, giving her speech a softer quality than usual, but her message was a tough one - that, like Rocky, she was a fighter who could be knocked down but shouldn't be counted out.
"We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but if you're ready, I'm ready," she said.
"I might stumble and I might get knocked down, but as long as you'll stand with me, I will always get right back up."