By IANS,
Washington : President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice Wednesday congratulated Barack Obama on his history-making achievement in securing the Democratic presidential nomination.
“President Bush congratulates Senator Obama for clinching the Democratic Party’s 2008 nomination for president,” White House spokesperson Dana Perino said.
“He knows from personal experience that the presidential nominating process is a gruelling one. Senator Obama came a long way in becoming his party’s nominee. And his historic achievement reflects the fact that our country has come a long way, too.”
Bush did not call Obama, and Perino noted that former president Bill Clinton didn’t call Bush when he won his party’s nomination in 2000. Bush also lauded Hillary Clinton for her “spirited campaign, and one that made history as well”, she said.
Congratulating Obama, Rice, the highest-ranking black member of the Bush administration, said: “The United States of America is an extraordinary country. It is a country that has overcome many, many, now years, decades, actually a couple of centuries of trying to make good on its principles.
“And I think what we are seeing is an extraordinary expression of the fact that ‘We the people’ is beginning to mean all of us.”
Rice also congratulated Republican nominee-in-waiting John McCain and Hillary Clinton on their campaigns.
“I look forward to viewing it all on the sidelines as a voter,” said Rice, who has been mentioned as a possible running mate for McCain.