With 98 percent of the vote counted, Clinton has a double-digit lead over Sanders, 57.9 percent to 42.1 percent, surpassing expectations.

If the margin holds, Clinton will take 135 of the Empire State's 247 pledged delegates, building on her 244-delegate edge entering Tuesday's primary, according to The Associated Press.

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The impressive win ended a streak of victories by Sanders and is likely to raise calls from some Democrats for the Vermont senator to blunt his attacks on the Democratic front-runner.

Her win Tuesday will make it more difficult for Sanders to catch her in the delegate race.

Clinton signaled confidence in remarks after being projected the winner.

“The race for the Democratic nomination is in the home stretch, and victory is in sight,” she said.

The two candidates fought a spirited battle in New York, where Sanders was born and Clinton served as a senator.

Sanders had not predicted a victory but made it clear he had hoped to keep the margin small. Sanders drew tens of thousands of supporters to rallies across New York in the final days before the election, and he escalated his attacks on Clinton at a debate last week.

The Vermont senator questioned Clinton’s judgment and pilloried her for not releasing the transcripts of paid speeches she’s given to big financial firms. On Monday, the Sanders campaign accused Clinton of illegally colluding with the Democratic National Committee in joint fundraising efforts.

Clinton hit back, criticizing Sanders's policies on abortion and gun control.

The back-and-forth had many Democrats fretting that the animosity could damage the eventual nominee in the general election.

Sanders's changes may have been hurt by New York being a closed primary.

He has relied heavily on young voters and independents, but the deadline to change party registration to become a Democrat in New York was in October.

According to the exit polls , Sanders won among voters under age 30, with 69 percent, compared to Clinton's 31 percent. Sanders typically performs well among this bloc.

Updated on April 20 at 5:54 a.m.