Somewhere along the campaign trail, Hillary Clinton's very survival became her greatest asset.

With a pantsuit as armor, she deflects hits and keeps coming. In the long-running drama that is the Democratic presidential primary, she relishes her role as a street-fighting woman -- in pearls.

Not campaign debt nor superdelegate defection can stop her. Just when party leaders try to wrap up the nomination process, she wins a primary and continues her quest.

Doing whatever it takes isn't fighting dirty. It's being tough, say her supporters.

Democrats want a winner. And when Clinton and daughter Chelsea bounded out of darkness into the light of the Time Warner Cable Arena Monday night, Team Clinton was all smiles and confidence.

Even those who are no fans of Hillary or any Clinton are coming to admire her tenacity, a quality that speakers -- whether Hollywood actress or Ohio congresswoman -- made sure to mention.

It doesn't matter that Hillary Clinton's cloak of inevitability was stripped off as soon as states started voting.

It doesn't matter that she is still behind in pledged delegates, the popular vote and number of states won in the Democratic primary.

All that matters is that Hillary Clinton is still standing -- laughing and waving, too -- looking like she hasn't a worry in the world.

It was this Hillary Clinton the crowd at the arena had come to see.

"She's tough, period. It's the thing I like about her," said Renee Fulcher, 34, a graduate student at Appalachian State who had come from Boone to hear Clinton.

"She'll bring the type of change we need domestically and internationally," Fulcher said.

The issue of a Bush-Clinton-Bush-Clinton dynasty bothers her a little bit, she said. "But it would bother me a lot more if there was another Bush coming along."

Fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Yost can't vote yet. "I wish," she said. She had come with her family from Rock Hill to cheer Clinton. "She's fighting just as fair as the other candidates," Elizabeth said.

If Clinton complains about unfair media scrutiny, then mocks her opponent for doing the same, well, that's the way the game is played.

Not even her vote authorizing the Iraq war is a deal breaker for Mick McNeely, 59. "Everyone was looking for political cover," he said.

"She's trying to do what she has to do," McNeely said. "Politics is rough."

Clinton -- the rough politician -- is an image that sells.

Yes, there was attention to the issues. For Jade Honeycutt, who owns a Charlotte hair salon, it's health insurance for those who don't have access.

But it was about more than any one issue. It was Hillary Clinton against the world.

"At first they said she was soft," said Christine Bowser, a 73-year-old retired physical education teacher and Clinton volunteer. "She's proven that she can do more than cry."

"Give 'em Hill!" one sign read. Clinton continued the theme, with tough talk about China, OPEC and businesses that move jobs overseas. Well, she did liken herself to Rocky.

You can tell she's enjoying the fight.