Delegate count says Clinton wins nomination; Sanders says, not so fast

Hillary Clinton has secured the support of enough delegates to win the Democratic nomination for president, according to a tally by The Associated Press. The prediction comes on the eve of primary votes in six states, including California, where 548 delegates are up for grabs.

The campaign of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., called the AP count a “rush to judgment” because Clinton’s hold on the nomination depends on superdelegates, who can still change their minds. Sanders continues to lobby superdelegates to shift their support to him and says their votes shouldn’t be counted until the convention. The AP began surveying superdelegates in 2015, and so far none of them who promised to support a candidate has reversed that decision.

In the primary elections and caucuses, Clinton has won 1,812 pledged delegates—or delegates who are bound to vote a certain way at the convention—to Sanders’ 1,521. That’s more than the 131-delegate lead that then-Sen. Barack Obama held over Clinton when he clinched the Democratic nomination on June 4, 2008. Among superdelegates, Clinton has the support of 571, while Sanders has the backing of 48. Overall, Clinton has 2,383 delegates, the number needed to become the party’s presidential candidate.

Clinton’s campaign issued a statement calling the AP count an “important milestone,” saying Clinton looked forward to Tuesday’s voting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.