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Hillary Clinton looked into their eyes, her voice dropping. This is very personal for me, the senator from New York told a small group of undecided voters in a Portsmouth, N.H., cafe in January 2008.

Her voice cracked with emotion. Clintons campaign for president was foundering. Another history-seeking Democrat, Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois, had won the Iowa caucuses, and polls showed him with a double-digit lead over Clinton on the day before the New Hampshire primary.

A woman asked how Clinton did it how, after all she had been through, she remained so upbeat. Clinton paused, tears welling in her eyes. I see whats happening, she said. And we have to reverse it.

She had, until that point, been scripted and cautious, intent on projecting the gravitas of a commander in chief. Voters struggled to connect, and the campaign appeared adrift, beset by bickering and leaks that Clinton seemed unable to control.

Then, whether it was authenticity or a Hail Mary by a desperate campaign, Clinton went off the familiar script. Her voice softened. I just dont want to see us fall backwards, she said. You know?

The next day, she erased Obamas lead and won New Hampshire, though Obamas historic momentum would be too much to overcome. Portsmouth, though, was more meaningful than one primary win. I found my footing, Clinton wrote in Hard Choices, her second memoir, and my voice.

She refused to concede to Obama, even when it was clear she couldnt win. And by the end of her campaign, 18million people had voted to nominate a woman for president of the United States.

When the time finally came to withdraw, an 89-year-old woman wearing green entered the atrium of Washingtons National Building Museum to listen to Clintons concession speech. When youre knocked down, Clinton told hundreds of supporters, get right back up and never listen to anyone who says you cant or shouldnt go on.

The woman in green applauded, and Clinton continued.

Although we werent able to shatter that highest, hardest glass ceiling this time, thanks to you, its got about 18million cracks in it, she said as Dorothy Rodham watched from a few feet away.

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Hillary Clinton won't back down. Or go away. | The ...