She thought she had established herself as the most experienced Democratic candidate, but Hillary Clinton had no idea that the sweeping support for Illinois Senator Barack Obama would bring the results they did.

The two Democratic favorites were just that on Friday, but Obama took the overall support of the state, while former North Carolina Senator John Edwards made it a three-horse race in the Democratic Party.

Updated numbers throughout the night have shown that instead of finishing a steady runner-up to Obama, Clinton finished a disappointing third, a finish she will need to improve upon in the next state, New Hampshire.

Clinton addressed supporters and the media at the Hotel Fort Des Moines after initial caucus results had been tallied.

But instead of hanging her head over her disappointing finish, she first offered a bit of congratulations to her Democratic counterparts.

“I congratulate Senator Obama and Senator Edwards on their turnout tonight. Together we have presented a case for change and proved that the Democratic Party is ready to take over,” Clinton said. “I am as ready as I can be after this experience in Iowa to keep focused on the two big issues – how will we win, and who will be the best president of the United States come day one in the White House.”

After casting a positive glow upon her Democratic rivals, Clinton quickly turned back to her own campaign and her quest for the presidency.

“We’re not just electing a president, we are electing a change for our country,” she said. “If we don’t start acknowledging the people working hard on a daily basis and raising our families, we won’t be able to recognize America in a few years.”

Clinton supporters showed a bit more emotion than their chosen candidate during her address.

Des Moines resident Cande Cerniglia said she thought Obama had college-aged caucus-goers bussed in to increase support.

“There were an awful lot of college-aged kids that caucused without their parents,” Cerniglia said. “I know the people in our precinct, and it is not an area with that many college-aged individuals. I think people were bussed in, I didn’t recognize them.”

While some didn’t approve of the college demographic, Aarthi Susarla, of Chicago, was worried anti-Hillary groups will begin to show support for rival candidates.

“Yeah, I’m worried; all the anti-Hillary people are either going to Obama or Edwards,” Susarla said. “I still think that she’ll win, I’m 100 percent certain.”

While Clinton and her supporters are confident moving on from the disappointing finish in Iowa, it was also acknowledged that a renewed excitement will be needed to claim victory in New Hampshire.

“I am so ready for the rest of this campaign and I am so ready to lead,” Clinton said.