New York, Nov 5: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, one time rival of Barack Obama, today congratulated her fellow Democrat on his election as the 44th President of the United States.

CNN quoted Clinton spokesman Philippe Reines as saying that the two spoke for a few minutes.

Clinton congratulated Obama on his victory, and offered her condolences on the loss of his grandmother.

Obama thanked the New York senator for all she did to help him win the election, and said he looks forward to speaking with both her and former President Bill Clinton soon.

Clinton was among the first to release a statement upon Obama’s victory.

“Tonight, we are celebrating an historic victory for the American people. This was a long and hard fought campaign but the result was well worth the wait,” she said.

Barack Hussein Obama, the son of a White woman and a Black man, raised by his grandparents far outside the stream of American power and wealth, became the 44th president of the United States.

Showing extraordinary focus and quiet certainty, Obama swept away one political presumption after another to defeat first Hillary Clinton, who wanted to be president, and then John McCain. (ANI)