With race over, Clinton takes South Dakota

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) was projected to win the South Dakota primary, a bittersweet victory in a contest that was called shortly after Sen. Barack Obama (Ill.) claimed the mantle of presumptive Democratic nominee.

{mosads}In winning one of the last two contests Tuesday night, Clinton completed a strong finish that started after Obama had grabbed the momentum and the lead in the race with a string of victories in February and a big night in April.

Even though Obama passed the number of delegates needed to secure the nomination Tuesday night, Clinton’s win, like others before, raised questions about Obama’s ability to win over white, working class and rural voters in the general election matchup with presumptive Republican nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.).

As rumors and reports swirled Tuesday that Clinton is "open" to running with Obama on the ticket, her win in South Dakota could strengthen her position to that end.