Clinton Campaign Looks Toward N.H.

From the Washington Post:

At 9:25 p.m. Central time, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton emerged onstage to acknowledge the first electoral loss of her career. "I am so ready for the rest of this campaign, and I am so ready to lead," Clinton said. She spoke for about 10 minutes, with her husband, daughter and mother standing at her side.

"Thank you, thank you so much. Wow," Clinton said. "Well, we're going to take this enthusiasm and go right to New Hampshire tonight. This is a great night for Democrats. We have seen an unprecedented turnout here in Iowa, and that is good news because today we're sending a clear message that we are going to have change and that change will be a Democratic president in the White House in 2009."

She continued: "I am so proud to have run with such exceptional candidates. I congratulate Senator Obama and Senator Edwards. I thank Senator Dodd and Senator Biden and Governor Richardson and Congressman Kucinich. Together we have presented the case for change and have made it absolutely clear that America needs a new beginning. And I am as ready as I can be after having had this incredible experience here in Iowa starting out a long time ago and making this journey with so many people who have become my friends and who I am so grateful for their hard work and support."

Clinton repeated her central theme: That only she is ready to lead as president upon inauguration in 2009. She also suggested that many Iowans had been unable to participate in the caucuses, which require people to be physically present in the room and thus exclude active-duty members of the military and night workers. And Clinton promised, as expected, to continue running a national race.