Clinton ducks an Obama knock-out

By Max Deveson
BBC News, Philadelphia

Hillary Clinton peppered her speech with boxing metaphors

The man in the crowd wearing boxing gloves said it all.

In Pennsylvania, the home of Rocky Balboa, Hillary Clinton managed to avoid a knock-out.

Appropriately enough, her entry music - as it has been throughout the Pennsylvania campaign - was the theme from the Rocky films.

And her victory speech was filled with boxing ring metaphors.

"The Obama campaign tried to knock us out," she said, to a chorus of boos from the audience.

"The pundits counted me out… I might stumble and get knocked down - but I always get back up… and I will fight for you."

Sharp blows

This Pennsylvania primary has certainly gone the distance.

It has been six weeks since the last primary, and the campaign has been working flat out in the Keystone State.

Mr Obama has left Mrs Clinton trailing in the fundraising stakes

At times during the speeches tonight, it showed.

Several of the speakers appeared hoarse as they warmed up the crowd before the big victory speech.

Mrs Clinton's voice was also slightly croaky as she thanked her supporters and celebrated her win.

Some sharp blows have been exchanged during the campaign.

But in her speech, the senator adopted a more conciliatory tone.

"I commend Senator Obama and his supporters tonight," she said.

"We are all on this journey together, to create an America that embraces every last one of us."

Psychological boost

She made a point of mentioning Mr Obama's heavy cash advantage in Pennsylvania.

And the funding gap was clearly on her mind when she urged her supporters to log on to her website and donate money.

This will now be the key question for the Clinton campaign: Will this victory in Pennsylvania jump-start her fundraising operation and allow her to compete with Mr Obama in the forthcoming contests in Indiana and North Carolina?

Mother-and-son Sarah and Max Coslove celebrate the "exciting" win

If she can begin to close the funding gap, then she might just have a chance of challenging Mr Obama's hold on the nomination.

For her supporters, her Pennsylvania victory will be a psychological boost.

Sarah and Max Coslove - a mother and son from Philadelphia - campaigned for Mrs Clinton in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.

"With this victory, it's like we're starting over," said Mrs Coslove.

"The campaign has been long - but it's been exciting and this victory makes everything worthwhile."

Mrs Clinton comes out of her Pennsylvania bout victorious.

But her next fights will be on less friendly territory, and she will need to keep up her winning form if she is to battle on all the way to the White House.