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By Kim Ghattas
BBC News, Washington
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Mrs Clinton said being a woman is no longer a barrier to the highest office
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It was not the party she had planned but she said she still "enjoyed the company".
Hillary Clinton put a brave face on as she formally announced the end of her bid to become America's first woman president after 16 months of campaigning and a marathon primary season.
Hundreds of supporters had queued for several hours in the gruelling heat and humidity to attend the speech.
The crowd was made up mostly of white middle-class Americans, with a lot of middle-aged women - a reflection of the "demographics" that supported Mrs Clinton during her campaign.
Senator Clinton looked a bit emotional when she took to the stage, her husband Bill and daughter Chelsea at her side.
It must have been a difficult moment for a woman who has had a long career in politics and who just a few months ago seemed to be the inevitable Democratic candidate.
Mrs Clinton was cheered loudly throughout the speech as some of the women in the audience fought back tears.
"I'm very sad, very disappointed and very angry," said 60-year-old Marlene Connors.
"I plan to mourn a while and then I plan to back Obama 1,000%."
'Lingering Obama doubts'
There was one man who persistently booed every time Mrs Clinton mentioned Barack Obama, a sign that the rivalry and bitterness that plagued the Democratic nomination are not quite forgotten.
Clinton's disappointed backers are largely middle class and female
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"I'm not sure Obama can win and in my heart I'm not sure I want him to," said 70-year-old Marjorie Cashion from Florida.
But Mrs Clinton unequivocally gave her support for Mr Obama and her campaign chairman Terry McCauliffe told the BBC that the New York senator would be actively campaigning for the presumptive Democratic nominee, travelling the country and sending e-mails to all her supporters to ask them to vote for Mr Obama.
Some of those attending were fans of Mr Obama who said they had come to see how Mrs Clinton handled her move to bow out of the race.
Mrs Clinton had been criticised for what was seen by some as a lack of grace in her speech on Tuesday after the last primaries were held and victory clinched for Mr Obama.
She then waited for a few days before volunteering her endorsement.
"I'm here to make sure that she says what I need her to say - that she fully supports Obama," said Shanterra McBride, a 33-year-old director of a youth programme.
"If she doesn't do that it will affect the Democratic Party."
'Not genuine enough'
Ms McBride was speaking before the speech and throughout the address alternated between clapping and frowning.
At the end, she said that while Hillary Clinton had ticked all the right boxes, she did not seem genuine enough.
"I would have wanted her to stick to saying that she supported Obama and not start running for vice-president in the same speech," said Ms McBride.
"She focused a lot on herself but maybe my expectations were too high."
The New York State senator chose to make her speech inside a 19th-Century Roman-inspired building, which once housed the Pension Bureau and now provides a grandiose space for political and social gatherings.
It is home to the National Building Museum and the massive space felt a bit empty - Mrs Clinton never did match her Democratic rival's ability to draw big crowds.
But the two will now be joining forces in some form or another.
On her website there is already a banner calling on people to support Mr Obama and on his campaign website, a banner with the words "Thank you Senator Hillary Clinton".
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I'm not sure Obama can win and in my heart I'm not sure I want him to
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