Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' recent surge in Nevada ultimately fell short Saturday. But afterward, he argued it signaled a momentous turn in the race.

Sanders, a senator from Vermont, lost out to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Saturday Nevada caucuses.

With 82% of precincts reporting, Clinton maintained a 52.1% to 47.8% lead over Sanders, The Associated Press reported.

That final result, Sanders noted afterward, was much more narrow than the deficit he faced months and even weeks ago.

"You know, five weeks ago we were 25 points down in the polls, we have made some real progress," he said in a speech to Nevada supporters. "A little while ago I called up Secretary Clinton and congratulated her and her staff for the victory here in Nevada, they ran a very aggressive, effective campaign and I applaud them for their efforts."

"I believe on Super Tuesday we have an excellent chance to win many of those states," he continued. "But I also know that on Super Tuesday and before, we are going to be taking on a very powerful and well-funded super PAC, a super PAC that receives a significant amount of money from Wall Street and special interests."

Sanders was coming off a massive win in the New Hampshire primary over Clinton earlier this month. However, that state contained a nearly all-white voting block. Nevada's demographic makeup was much different, with minority voters making up more than 40% of the electorate, according to NBC News, which reported that Clinton won the black vote by a wide margin.

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Sanders did close the gap in recent weeks. And in a separate message to supporters Saturday, he said the Nevada result proved the campaign "could win anywhere."

"I want to be completely clear with you about what this result means: Nevada was supposed to be a state 'tailor made' for the Clinton campaign, and a place she once led by almost 40 points," he in a statement released by his campaign following his loss. "But today, we sent a message that will stun the political and financial establishment of this country: our campaign can win anywhere."

He continued: "We’re closing the gap dramatically in states that have yet to vote, and there’s a path to victory for our political revolution. If we continue to stand together, we’ll continue to win."

Clinton's victory speech took a couple of not-so-subtle shots at Sanders.

"Americans are right to be angry, but we're also hungry for real solutions," Clinton said.

"We aren't a single issue country. We need more than a plan for the big banks," she continued, which elicited boos from Sanders supporters watching the speech at his Nevada caucus night party.

Sanders said in his speech that the "wind is at our backs."

We have the momentum and I believe that when Democrats assemble in Philadelphia in July at that convention, we are going to see the results of one of the great political upsets in the history of the United States," he said.

Crowd chants "feel the Bern" as Sanders shakes hands at the end of speech. For a loss, they're pretty fired up pic.twitter.com/WuxhVeiKuX — Hunter Schwarz (@hunterschwarz) February 20, 2016

Read Sanders' post-caucus tweets below:

I want to thank the people of Nevada for the support they have given us and the boost that their support will give us as we go forward. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 20, 2016

I am very proud of the campaign we ran. Five weeks ago we were 25 points behind and we ended up in a very close election. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 20, 2016

Proud that we brought many working and young people into the political process. We have the wind at our back as we head into Super Tuesday. — Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 20, 2016

NOW WATCH: Sanders predicts one of the greatest 'political upsets in the history of the US'





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