OBAMA WINS: Voters cast their final ballots last night in the Democratic primary election season. Barack Obama's campaign claims victory, but without Hillary Clinton's formal concession, many wonder how it will end.

As expected, Obama won the Montana Democratic primary last night. Clinton took South Dakota in an election that few were able to accurately forecast. While polls were open in both states, dozens of superdelegates announced their support for Obama. And while the primary season is officially over, and Obama appears to have won enough delegates to claim the nomination, why hasn't Clinton conceded?

Montana and South Dakota Weigh In

Yesterday the last two primary elections took place in South Dakota and Montana. With 100% of precincts reporting, here's a look at how Montana Democrats voted:

The pre-election polls in South Dakota varied widely, showing both candidates with wide majority support at times. In the end, with 100% of precincts reporting, here's how South Dakota Democrats voted:

All numbers from The New York Times election coverage guide.

Clinton, Obama and the Shape of the Future

Obama is the presumptive Democratic nominee for two reasons:

• Several superdelegates announced their support for Obama yesterday, including President Jimmy Carter and Rep. Maxine Waters (D—Calif.).
• The number of delegates he received from the Montana and South Dakota elections put him over the amount he needed.

Clinton chose not to concede in her speech last night. Why? While only her close advisers truly know, many speculate that Clinton will hold out long enough to help shape the national election in November:

• As the Democratic Party shifts its focus to running against Republican presumptive nominee John McCain, Obama and Democratic Party leaders will seek to unify Democrats.
• Clinton can use her large support base as a bargaining chip to ensure that Obama's presidential campaign includes a platform that Clinton-supporters can get behind.

UPDATED 8:15 a.m. (MDT) Clinton will not have long to decide. Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued a statement this morning requesting superdelegates choose their candidate by Friday. The DNC's memo said, ". . . we are urging all remaining uncommitted super delegates to make their decisions known by Friday of this week so that our party can stand united and begin our march toward reversing the eight years of failed Bush/McCain policies that have weakened our country."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–Calif.), Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D–Nev.) and other prominent Democratic leaders coreleased the statement.

Obama-Clinton Ticket in November?

While waiting to learn the election outcomes last night, many political analysts and commentators discussed the possibility that Clinton could become the vice presidential nominee. There were, in fact, signals from the Clinton campaign that she's open to that possibility.

If Clinton joins Obama's campaign, they'll need to resolve political differences in several areas, including:

- foreign affairs

- health care

- immigration

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Question for Readers:

Do you think the media are being too negative about Clinton's chances of becoming the Democratic nominee?