A few days ago Clinton pollster Mark Penn wondered where Barack Obama’s Iowa bounce was in an email to reporters. The next day he found it. That bounce showed up in the New Hampshire polls and Obama was up over Hillary Clinton by as much as double digit margains. His crowds in New Hampshire were large and enthusiastic - but it wasn’t enough for a New Hampshire victory Tuesday night.

Obama’s “victory party” at Nashua’s South High School was at capacity - fire marshals shut the doors and hundreds were not let in. As the night wore on, the crowd slowly got quieter. When giant television screens broadcasting CNN to the crowds in the gymnasium announced the Associated Press called the race for Hillary Clinton, there were audible boos. When CNN said it was still to early for their news organization to call the race, the crowd cheered - clinging to that last bit of hope.

But a few minutes later at 10:45pm, Mr. and Mrs. Obama took to the stage and Obama congratulated Mrs. Clinton on her apparent victory. “She did an outstanding job - give her a big round of applause,” he told the crowd. They obliged. Obama called Clinton to personally congratulate her just a few minutes before he was introduced by two NH members of Congress.

“A few weeks ago,” he began, “no one imagined that we’d have accomplished what we did here tonight. For most of this campaign, we were far behind, and we always knew our climb would be steep,” he said. Later, he acknowledged, “We know the battle ahead will be long, but always remember that no matter what obstacles stand in our way, nothing can withstand the power of millions of voices calling for change.”

The video is shaky (the press pit was crowded), but here you can watch Obama’s close:

done

After the speech, Obama staffers were nowhere to be seen, save for a few advance staffers left with a roomful of curious reporters. In an email, Communications Director Robert Gibbs explained that the speech “stands on its own.”

Obama will be making the morning news show rounds tomorrow before heading to Boston to hold a fundraiser. He’ll then speak at a rally in Jersey City, New Jersey. On an up note for Obama fans, the influential Culinary Workers Union in Las Vegas is expected to endorse Senator Obama tomorrow at 11am PST, and the Nevada Service Employees International Union endorsed Obama tonight.