For the estimated 1,300 supporters gathered at the Palm Beach County Convention Center, the suspense had ended pretty early, at least as Florida was concerned.
By 7 p.m., early numbers showed the Democratic presidential front-runner running away with the Florida primary, in some cases by as much as two to one, and even more at various points. CNN projected Clinton won the primary as soon as the polls closed at 8 p.m. in Florida’s Panhandle.
In the hour before Clinton came out at just before 9 p.m., the crowd continued to cheer as news agencies gave her North Carolina and Ohio. Around that time, Florida’s own Marco Rubio, beaten in his home state, told supporters in Miami he was dropping out of the Republican race.
“Thank you Florida. Thank you North Carolina. Thank you Ohio,” a slightly hoarse Clinton shouted above cheers.
"Tonight, it's clearer than ever that this may be one of the most consequential elections of our lifetime," she said. "You voted for our tomorrows to be better than our yesterdays."
In her remarks, which lasted about 10 minutes, Clinton took some subtle and not-so-subtle shots at Donald Trump, who might just be her opponent in November. Trump won Florida Tuesday as well. And, in a bit of cosmic alignment, hosted his own event just a few miles away at his Mar-a-Lago Club on Palm Beach.
She said that when Trump "embraces torture, that doesn't make him strong, it makes him wrong." And, she said, "Our commander-in-chief has to be able to defend our country. Not embarrass it. "
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