Robby Mook, Clinton’s campaign manager, issued a statement suggesting the campaign thinks the call by the news organizations is premature since it was based on additional new votes from superdelegates, the party officials and activists who have a vote at the convention and can support a candidate regardless of primary results. Superdelegates have been a source of controversy from the beginning of the nominating contests when her rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, contended that they gave her an unfair early advantage.
“This is an important milestone, but there are six states that are voting Tuesday, with millions of people heading to the polls, and Hillary Clinton is working to earn every vote. We look forward to Tuesday night, when Hillary Clinton will clinch not only a win in the popular vote, but also the majority of pledged delegates,” said Mook.
Clinton drew within 25 delegates of the nomination after the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico voted over the weekend. The newly minted presumptive nominee is planning a victory party Tuesday night in Brooklyn after the results from primaries in New Jersey and California, which the campaign believes will give her an overwhelming lead in both pledged delegates and the popular vote. Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota also hold Democratic contests Tuesday.
“We are on the brink of an historic, unprecedented moment, but we still have work to do, don’t we?” Clinton said at a rally Monday night in Long Beach, Calif.. “We have six elections tomorrow and we’re going to fight hard for every single vote, especially right here in California,”
In a tweet following the AP announcement, Clinton said she was “flattered” but urged voters in the six states holding contests Tuesday to get out to vote.
