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It’s going to come down to the superdelegates. After winning Puerto Rico by what her campaign co-chair said would be the widest margin of any state to vote so far, Hillary Clinton delivered what’s likely to be her final victory speech in San Juan — telling a crowd of supporters she’ll have the popular vote lead after Tuesday’s final primaries, and that party leaders will have to make a decision.

“You’ve come out strong, you’ve defied the skeptics,” she said to 500 Puerto Ricans at the Condado hotel victory celebration. ” We are winning the popular vote. Now there can be no doubt. The people have spoken and you have chosen your candidate.”

“So when the voting concludes on Tuesday, neither Senator Obama nor I will have the number of delegates to be the nominee. I will lead the popular vote. He will maintain a slight lead in the delegate count,” Clinton said. “The decision will fall on the shoulders of those leaders in our party empowered by the rules to vote at the Democratic convention. I do not envy the decision you must make. But a decision has to be made.”

Clinton often says that decision comes down to two questions: who’s best to beat John McCain, and who will be the best president. Today, she added a third: “which candidate best represents the will of the people who voted in this historic primary?”

“I am in this race because I believe I am that candidate, and I will be that president,” she said to applause.

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Hillary Clinton will leave Puerto Rico with a sizable win, though the turnout could have been better for her. Aides say it’ll be around 20%, somewhere between 250,000 and 500,000 — less than the 30% turnout for a recent primary for governor and far less than the usual general election turnout of 80%.

After spending nearly a week on the Island, here are a few things we’ve learned:

-It’s All About Status. Clinton stressed that she’d let Puerto Ricans decide for themselves whether they want statehood or not by the end of her first term, and she’d work with the Congress to make their decision law. While the economy, crime, and health care are important issues here, Status is number one. Her stance always draws the biggest round of applause — and her commitment to doing something right away is cited as an advantage over Obama by islanders.

-The Lady Likes to Dance. Something about Puerto Rico brings out Clinton’s inner Dancing Queen. She swayed and clapped in church, got jiggy in a bar, shook it on top of a pick-up truck in La Caravana, and showed off some moves to some Reggaeton at her San Juan rally.

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The DNC’s Rules and Bylaws committee is meeting in Washington to decide the fate of Michigan and Florida — which will have a profound impact on what the Clinton campaign does next, if it’s able to survive at all. But Hillary Clinton seemed as far removed as she could be from the proceedings in DC, touring the barrios of Puerto Rico on top of a pickup truck as Clinton-themed Latin music blared in front of her.

It’s a Puerto Rican political tradition known as “La Caravana.” Clinton, who said she’d dressed for caravanning with a satiny purple top and khaki pants, led a growing parade of cars — totaling 200 at one point, though that could just be the traffic that was backed up behind her (which included at least four on-duty ambulances). She waved at supporters and bystanders as the trucks rolled slowly forward, an announcer blasting the news of her arrival through 20 foot high speakers on the back of a tractor trailer.

Clinton started off dancing to the music and clapping atop her perch, though she seemed less animated as the caravan entered hour number three. She left the top of the truck only to rest in an SUV, and for a bathroom break near Bayamon.

Groups of cheering crowds waving Hillary flags greet the caravan every so often, but the streets were generally fairly quiet. Most of Clinton’s constituency here consists of people hanging out of cars and shops that honk, wave, or even give the occasional thumbs down. Overall, Clinton’s received a positive response as she hopes to drive up turnout to score a big victory here on Sunday.

Check out the 1:07 Hillary Clinton tune by Latin star Willy Colon that we listened to at least 500 times after the jump.

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Puerto Rican Sensation Ricky Martin endorses Hillary Clinton ahead of the island’s June 1st primary. He may not be a superdelegate, but he WAS in Menudo.

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It was one of the happiest days we’ve seen her spend on the campaign trail in weeks — and given the last few days, a much needed one.

Hillary Clinton started her Sunday morning at an evangelical church in Puerto Rico, swaying from side to side and clapping her hands as a band and choir played Latin-infused Christian rock. After changing from a serious turquoise pantsuit to a more festive pink floral top, Clinton hit the beach — grooving to the sounds of salsa music while watching a live dance troupe.

Following a leisurely lunch by the water and a 9-minute speech featuring a debate challenge for Barack Obama, Clinton changed costumes again — this time back to the turquoise — for her speech on Cuba, then headed to the bar to shake hands with the locals in San Juan.

While there, she ordered a Presidente, a Dominican beer, drinking a toast with her Puerto Rico advisers. On her way out the door, she advised two traveling TV reporters that they were free to start drinking as well — before stopping to groove for a few seconds to the Enrique Iglesias hit “Be With You” with a certain Fox producer.

That’s right: I danced with Hillary Clinton.

The Senator’s dance party didn’t continue into the night — at least, not as far as I know. Clinton enjoyed a late meal with staff at her hotel in San Juan before retiring. She hits the campaign trail with her husband on Monday, joining up with her daughter to wrap up her three-day swing through the commonwealth before catching a plane to Washington.

Campaigning in the Clinton-friendly commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Hillary Clinton waded into choppier political waters today — chastising Cuba for failing to institute Democratic reforms and pledging that, as president, she would not meet with its leaders until it did so.

While it was not a new policy approach for the Senator, her comments come just days after Barack Obama and John McCain sparred over whether the President of the United States should meet with new Cuban leader Raul Castro without preconditions. Obama argues for such top-level meetings; Clinton sided firmly with McCain.

“I think we must see evidence of reform before we allow the current governor of Cuba to benefit from the prestige and power of a presidential meeting,” she told a group of Cuban expatriates at Casa Cuba in Carolina. “They must show their good faith and we will work with them if they do.”

Clinton called for large scale progress to justify large scale talks. “We have seen, since Raul Castro formally took power, some small measures that may improve the lives of people in Cuba,” she said. “These first steps, however, are minor compared with the giant leaps that must be taken in order to achieve genuine political reform in Cuba.”

“I would call on the new leadership in Cuba to take immediate action to demonstrate its good faith and understanding. Release political prisoners, permit free assembly, and host open and competitive elections like you have right here in Puerto Rico,” she said — vowing to work for “a free, open, democratic Cuba.”

Clinton never mentioned Barack Obama during her remarks, a pattern that’s developed since her chances at winning the nomination dropped to next to nil. But her direct opposition to Obama’s diplomatic policy is the closest she’s gotten to attacking her Democratic rival in weeks — hinting, at the very least, that she’s not quite ready to forego her strong opinions for the sake of party unity against John McCain.

She called out Barack Obama for nixing a debate in Wisconson; she said she didn’t know what he was scared of when he wouldn’t debate her in Indiana or North Carolina. Now, Hillary Clinton has issued a similar challenge to Obama one week before the Puerto Rico primary.

Speaking outside a small restaurant in Penuelas, where a translator interpreted her every sentence for the crowd of 50 Puerto Ricans, Clinton said she’d accepted a debate in the island commonwealth, and hoped that Obama would do the same.

“The issues facing Puerto Rico are serious and deserve a serious debate,” she said. “I was informed that Univision will sponsor a debate between Senator Obama and myself about the issues affecting Puerto Rico. I accept that invitation. Any time, anywhere.”

“That is the best way for the people of Puerto Rico to have their questions asked and answered, and for the rest of the United States to learn more about Puerto Rico.”

At least one member of the crowd hoped that debate wouldn’t happen; a man in his mid-20’s stood outside the pen that boxed in her supporters, holding up a sign that read simply “Quit.”

When it comes to Puerto Rico, the presidential candidates want to have it both ways.

There are thousands of people on this island who believe the commonwealth should be made a state. That would bring voting rights and equality under US law – but it would also bring the federal income tax. That’s something that those who oppose statehood would like to avoid.

Both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton have advocates for both sides on their campaigns here – and Clinton, for her part, is remaining as neutral as possible. At a colorful church service in Hormigueros, Clinton swayed left and right as the congregation sang Latin flavored hymns – but stayed straight down the middle on the issue of statehood.

“I believe all people are entitled to a representative form of government at all levels of government, and that the people of Puerto Rico should have the right to determine by majority vote the status you choose from among all the options,” she said. “I have no preference. My only commitment is to work with those from all factions and with the congress to give you the right to make that decision. I want that done within my first term as president.”

As was fitting for the setting, she cited scripture as a reason to keep going. “Do not grow weary doing good. For in due time we shall reap if we do not give up,” she said.

“There isn’t anything we cannot do together if we seek God’s blessing and if we stay committed and are not deterred by the setbacks that often fall in every life. If I had listened to those who had been talking over the last several months, we would not be having this campaign in Puerto Rico today.”

“But I believe this is an opportunity unlike any in recent history for the needs and interests and diversity of the people of Puerto Rico to be in the spotlight. This is an opportunity to educate everyone about this wonderful place and to have not just our country but the world learn more about Puerto Rico,” she said to applause.

On June 1st, Puerto Rico will hold its primary, the third to last contest of this long and drawn out Democratic race. Barack Obama spent the day campaigning in the territory, hoping to reap some of its 55 pledged delegates up for grabs next Sunday.

Obama is likely to secure his party’s nomination and he is already campaigning as though he is the presumptive nominee by holding events in general election states and taking on Senator McCain more than Senator Clinton. And today in Old San Juan, Obama told several thousand he thought this race might come to an end sooner rather than later should do well in the island’s primary.

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But later on a four and a half hour flight from San Juan to Chicago, Obama clarified his comment to reporters. “What I mean was, you know we have three more contests and if we do well in those next three contests, then we should be in a position hopefully to say that we’ve won this nomination.” He also observed that while he expects to do well in Puerto Rico’s primary, “I’m not as well known as Senator Clinton on the island.”

Following his several brief rally in Old San Juan, Obama walked in a traditional candidate’s parade called a camitana, greeting supporters and onlookers lined along the street. As Obama-themed salsa music blared, Obama occasionally showed the crowd some of his moves. Check it out here:

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“Buenas Noches!”

Hillary Clinton greeted the crowd in Aguadilla with the first Spanish she’s used since delivering a botched “Si Se Puede” in California in January. It was the only Espanol she attempted at her first campaign stop in Puerto Rico, and she didn’t even tolerate others using it much — pausing every so often during the first five minutes of her speech to allow her translator to repeat her words in Spanish before simply plowing ahead without translation.

Her message was specific in either language: she’s committed to Puerto Rico.

“I believe you should have a vote in picking the president too,” she said to applause from the 300 islanders gathered to hear her speak. “I am thrilled Puerto Rico will be in the spotlight of this entire nation as we move toward this primary.”

“I’m proud to represent over 1 million Puerto Ricans in New York City,” she said to cheers. Several in the crowd wore Yankees hats.

“My commitment to Puerto Rico did not start last month or last year. It stretches back more than a decade,” she said. She recalled trips she’d made to the island as First Lady and as a NY Senator.

“I have worked to be your voice in the senate, and I will always be your voice as your president,” she said. To that end, she outlined what she’d do for Puerto Rico in the White House

: clean up the naval bombing station at Vieques, extend the funding for a huge radio telescope, extend the federal economic empowerment zone program to include Puerto Rico.

But first things first: the pesky question of statehood. Part of her commitment to the island, she said, “starts with enabling the people of Puerto Rico to decide the fundamental question of the islands – your status
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