New York Senator Hillary Clinton will end her quest for the presidency Friday, according to a CNN report that cites multiple sources. The news comes only one day after a defiant Clinton was introduced to supporters as "the next president of the United States of America," while most news outlets were announcing that Illinois Senator Barack Obama had secured the Democratic nomination.

The Clinton campaign said she "will be hosting an event in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to thank her supporters and express her support for Senator Obama and party unity," according to CNN.

With the voting over, both Obama and Clinton were back in Washington to speak with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. According to the CNN report, the candidates crossed paths at the conference and had a brief conversation. "She's an extraordinary leader of the Democratic Party and has made history alongside me over the last 16 months," Obama told the lobbying group. "I'm very proud to have competed against her."

Inevitably, any report of Clinton's withdrawal from the race turns to speculation over whether she'd be willing to run as Obama's vice-presidential candidate. Many say that such a move would unite the roughly 36 million people who've voted for the duo, and could create a Democratic dream ticket that would prove unstoppable against Republican nominee John McCain.

According to CNN calculations, Obama beat her in primary season with 2,156 delegates to Clinton's 1,923. On Friday, the world may finally learn what Clinton intends to do next.

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