WASHINGTON — Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton declared herself the party’s presidential nominee after victories in several primaries on Tuesday night.
Clinton won New Mexico, South Dakota and New Jersey before claiming victory over rival Bernie Sanders, who won the North Dakota caucus.
President Barack Obama called Clinton to congratulate her on securing enough delegates for the nomination.
Counting is still going on in California and Montana.
“Thanks to you, we’ve reached a milestone,” Clinton said in a rally in New York.
Clinton’s declaration of victory comes a day after the Associated Press and NBC announced her as the presumptive Democratic nominee based on a tally of pledged delegates and superdelegates.
The Sanders campaign rejected the announcements as premature. Sanders says he’s determined to stay in the race until the party’s convention in July.
