U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) looks down during her South Dakota and Montana presidential primary election night rally in New York June 3, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will drop out of the nomination race by Friday, a TV report said on Wednesday.

    Citing two Democratic sources, the ABC News report said the New York senator held a conference call on Wednesday in which she discussed with Congress members and Democratic superdelegates her plans to quit the race.

    She also made an emotional visit to her campaign headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, speaking to her staff and inviting them to her home in Washington D.C. on Friday, the report said.

    Before her visit to the headquarters, most of her campaign staff were told they would no longer have to report to work after Friday but they would be paid through June 15, it added.

    As of Tuesday, the last day of the presidential primary, Illinois Senator Barack Obama had collected 2,166 delegates, exceeding the 2,118 delegates needed to secure the presidential nomination.

    However, Clinton, backed by 1,919 delegates, refused to announce her withdrawal from the race on Tuesday night, saying she would consult with her supporters and party leadership before deciding her next move.

    But even some of her most loyal backers, according to ABC, have begun to publicly urge her to quit the race to clear the way for Democrats to unify and meet the challenge from Republican rival John McCain. 

Defeated Clinton ponders next move

New York Senator Hillary Clinton speaks at the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) policy conference in Washington, US, June 4, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, June 4 (Xinhua) -- After effectively losing to Senator Barack Obama in the Democratic nomination race, Senator Hillary Clinton is pondering her next move.

    Clinton said Tuesday night she will let her supporters and party leaders decide her course. Full story

Clinton to concede defeat only after Obama reaches delegate threshold

U.S. Democratic presidential candidate and Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) speaks during a campaign visit at Maysville High School in Maysville, Kentucky, May 19, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters File Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    WASHINGTON, June 3 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton will concede defeat only after her rival Barack Obama reaches the threshold of 2,118 delegates to secure the nomination, her campaign chief said Tuesday.

    Clinton campaign Chairman Terry McAuliffe told reporters that if Obama reaches the 2,118 delegates needed to be the nominee at the end of the day, Clinton will "congratulate him and call him the nominee."   Full story