A little after 2 am Eastern time, Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman John Podesta took the stage at the Javits Center in New York City and told her supporters to go home.
“Some states are too close to call,” he told them, at what was meant to be a victory party. “We’re not going to have anything more to say tonight.”
Trump is within five votes of the 270 electoral college votes he needs to be elected. But the Clinton campaign is clearly unwilling to concede tonight.
“Your voices and your enthusiasm mean so much to her and to Tim and to all of us,” Podesta added. “We are so proud of you. And we are so proud of her.”
Before he left the stage, Podesta tried for optimism: “Let’s get those votes counted and let’s bring this home.”