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NBC: Clinton Apparent Winner in Kentucky, Sanders Takes Oregon

Hillary Clinton
Hillary Clinton / AP

NBC News reported Tuesday night that Hillary Clinton was the apparent winner over Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) in a tight Kentucky Democratic primary.

The term "apparent winner" means the network had tallied Clinton having more votes than Sanders, but with such a tight margin, official results "may well depend upon a potential recount or final official tallies."

With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Clinton led by less than 2,000 votes, or 0.4 percentage points, in a state she won by 35 points in 2008 over Barack Obama. The Associated Press declared the race was too close to call.

Regardless of whether it was a narrow win or an essential tie, Clinton moved closer to officially clinching the Democratic nomination. This has appeared inevitable since mid-April, when she won New York and then took home multiple victories in the so-called Acela Primary.

Sanders remained aggressive against Clinton this week, questioning her judgment that she would put husband Bill Clinton in charge of revitalizing the economy.

Presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump tweeted earlier in the night that Clinton should drop out of the race if she couldn't win Kentucky.

Around 11:30 on the east coast, NBC projected Sanders would win the Oregon primary.

Note: This article has been updated.