With a massive get-out-the-vote effort, co-ordinated by New York's labour unions, Hillary Rodham Clinton won her historic race yesterday to become the first US First Lady ever to run for and win elected office.
Early returns showed that Mrs Clinton would win the US Senate race against Republican Congressman Rick Lazio by about eight percentage points.
Mrs Clinton was helped by a two million vote advantage enjoyed by Democrats in New York.
In addition, Vice-President Al Gore was reported to be doing very well in the state, appearing set to carry it by 10 to 15 percentage points.
After spending the previous evening at a boisterous union rally in Manhattan, Mrs Clinton and her husband, President Bill Clinton, woke early yesterday morning to do what they were hoping every other American would do - get out and cast a vote.
And, if early impressions at New York's polling booths were accurate, voter turnout was high here, especially among African-American and Hispanic voters, two voting blocs essential to a Democratic victory.
The President flew to New York on Monday night to spend election day with his wife and his daughter, Chelsea, and await the election returns.
They were among the first voters to arrive at their polling station, Douglas Grafflin Elementary School in Chappaqua, the Westchester County suburbs where the Clintons will live permanently after January 1st.
Before voting, the President, who has kept a very low profile in Vice-President Al Gore's campaign over the past few months, telephoned seven radio stations in New York, Buffalo and Philadelphia.
A White House spokesman said that Mr Clinton spent the remainder of the day making more than 40 telephone calls in an attempt to get the Democratic vote out.
As the Clintons left their polling station they were greeted by a group of women wearing rubber "Hillary" masks and blonde wigs and carrying signs proclaiming: "New York Blondes are Fully Pumped for Hillary".
The Clintons laughed and seemed to enjoy the street theatrics.
"I'm just excited", said Mrs Clinton. "I feel good about the campaign we've run. It's going to depend on whether people turn out."
Mr Clinton was asked how he felt about not being on the ballot.
"I've had my time and it was a good time", he said. "I've loved it."
The President indicated that he would now be focusing his attention on the Middle East peace process and on improving relations with North Korea, but said he had no plans for life after the election.
"Some people thought I was a lame duck in 1995. I'll just keep quacking. I've got another 10 weeks to quack", he joked.
As the results came trickling in, Mrs Clinton was spending the day at home, speaking to her closest supporters.
She and the President left their home in a presidential motorcade at about 6 p.m. to join Democratic Party members and supporters in a victory celebration at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Manhattan.