Defying mounting pressure from some party leaders to bow out, Democratic presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton told

The Washington Post she will stick it out through the remaining primaries and until the contested Florida and Michigan results are resolved.

Democrats in Florida and Michigan broke party rules and held primaries in January but the results were invalidated. Clinton won both primaries, but her rival, Illinois senator Barack Obama, was not on the ballot in Michigan.

Obama said Clinton can stay in the race as long as she wants. He also expressed confidence that Democrats will coalesce around the winner, despite the often bitter contest.He added that the notion that Democrats have been split by the prolonged nominating contest ?is somewhat overstated.?

Obama and Clinton support pulling U.S. combat troops out of Iraq. McCain has argued they could be needed there for years.

<B>Matthew BIGG</B>