Apex, Nevada (CNN) -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Monday that he is "very proud" of having told Barack Obama early on that he believed he was a viable candidate for president and could win election. Responding to the controversy surrounding a newly published remark he made privately about Obama's race in 2008, Reid sought to emphasize his longstanding support for the nation's first African-American president. "I can still remember the meeting that took place in my office with Sen. Barack Obama, telling him that I think he can be elected president," Reid said. Obama "was kind of surprised that the Democratic leader was calling this new senator over to suggest that he could be elected president," he added.
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NEW: Obama: Reid is friend who "has always been on right side of history"
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Sen. Harry Reid apologizes to Obama for remarks made during 2008 campaign
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Key Republicans have called Reid's comments racist and say he should step down
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Reid emphasizes longstanding support for President Obama
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