Senator apologises to Obama for 'Negro' remark

Mr Reid made the comments in private during the long 2008 campaign when discussing why Mr Obama should seek, and could win, the presidency.

Mr Obama quickly accepted the apology, saying: "As far as I am concerned, the book is closed."

Mr Reid's comments appeared in a new book about that election, which elevated Mr Obama from first-term Illinois senator to America's first black president.

After excerpts from the book appeared on the website of The Atlantic, Mr Reid released a statement expressing regret for "using such a poor choice of words".

He said: "I sincerely apologise for offending any and all Americans, especially African-Americans for my improper comments."

Mr Obama issued a statement saying he had spoken with Mr Reid, who faces a difficult re-election amid frustration from both liberals and conservatives with his leadership in the Senate and his agenda.

Mr Reid's office also said he had phoned several civil rights leaders to apologise.

The revelations about his language, included in the book Game Change by Time Magazine's Mark Halperin and New York magazine's John Heilemann, are based on interviews with more than 200 people involved in the campaign, including Mr Obama.

The writers' sources were granted anonymity and the writers reconstructed much of the narrative from interviews with those involved with direct knowledge of events, notes and transcripts.

The book will be released today.

Mr Reid said in his apology: "I was a proud and enthusiastic supporter of Barack Obama during the campaign and have worked as hard as I can to advance President Obama's legislative agenda."

Mr Reid was neutral during the bitter Democratic primary that became a marathon contest between Mr Obama and then-Senator Hillary Clinton. Mr Obama picked her as his Secretary of State after the election.

The book also deals with the Republican campaign, claiming aides to Republican nominee John McCain described the difficulties they faced with their vice presidential choice, then-Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

Steve Schmidt, a senior adviser to Mr McCain, is quoted telling Mrs Palin's foreign policy tutors: "You guys have a lot of work to do. She doesn't know anything."