SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO — Hillary Rodham Clinton chalked up an easy victory in Sunday's Puerto Rico primary, a widely expected win that underscores the advantage she has enjoyed among Latino voters over Democratic rival Barack Obama.
Clinton trounced Obama 68% to 32%.
Obama remains the front-runner for their party's presidential nomination. Although Clinton won 38 delegates in Puerto Rico to Obama's 17, he is just 47 short of the threshold for victory, the Associated Press said; she needs 202.5.
With Tuesday's primaries in South Dakota and Montana the only Democratic contests left, the final decision rests with the approximately 200 uncommitted superdelegates. Those party insiders will join the delegates selected in caucuses and primaries to determine who will be the nominee at August's Democratic National Convention in Denver.
At a victory rally in a hotel ballroom here, Clinton argued for the support of those superdelegates. The New York senator contended she was ahead in the popular vote, a much-challenged assertion that was based on disputed calculations.
"In the final assessment, I ask you to consider these questions: Which candidate best represents the will of the people who voted in this historic election?" she said as the crowd broke into a chant: "Hillary, Hillary."
"Which candidate is best able to lead us to victory in November?
"And which candidate is best able to lead our nation as our president in face of unprecedented challenges at home and abroad?
"I am in this race because I believe I am that candidate and I will be that president."
Obama, speaking in Mitchell, S.D., told a couple of thousand people outside the Corn Palace that he had just spoken to Clinton and congratulated her for winning the Puerto Rico primary.
He said she was an "outstanding public servant" who had "worked tirelessly" and would be "a great asset" to the Democratic Party in the general election.
"I know there are a lot of concerns about whether the party will come together after this long contest," Obama said, edging close to claiming victory in the Democratic race. He told the crowd that held "Change We Can Believe In" signs: "She is going to be a great asset when we go into November to make sure that we can defeat the Republicans, I can promise you."
