Story highlights After big wins on Super Tuesday, Hillary Clinton is looking ahead to the general election

Bernie Sanders' campaign, however, insists he's staying in

New York (CNN) Hillary Clinton on Wednesday began to look ahead from her significant Super Tuesday wins, celebrating what she called a day for the "history books" at a labor rally in New York City.

Clinton won seven states on Super Tuesday, including Massachusetts, a state Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders eyed as a possible pickup. At her first rally since the Tuesday victories, Clinton began to speak like a candidate focused on Republicans rather than her Democratic opponent.

"The stakes in this election has never been higher and the rhetoric from the other side has never been lower," Clinton said at the rally, which was attended by members of the Service Employees International Union, as well as teacher, building and trade unions.

"So we have work to do, my friends. But not to make America great again, America never stopped being great. We have to make America whole. Instead of building walls, we have to break down barriers that are holding back families and our country."

Clinton aides were content with their candidate's performance Tuesday night but were anxious to start moving past the Democratic primary season. Reality set in on Wednesday morning, however, when Sanders' campaign pledged to stay in the race until the convention.

Read More