Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is projected to win the Indiana primary but the former first lady failed to build significant momentum after losing big in North Carolina.

She started strong in the Hoosier State shortly after polls closed but her lead shrunk as more of Sen. Barack Obama’s (Ill.) strongholds reported their votes.

Clinton had hoped to use a solid win in Indiana and a close finish in North Carolina to argue that momentum is swinging to her. However, it was Obama who won decisively in the state he was supposed to win while Clinton was unable to pull away.

Tuesday night’s outcome will make it more difficult for the former first lady to convince superdelegates to back her or at least refrain from supporting Obama.