Hillary Clinton Sends Sweet Note to Girl Who Lost Class President Election by 1 Vote

It takes a village to raise a girl class president. 

Martha Kennedy Morales, a third-grader at a Maryland private school, was crushed when she lost her class president election by just one vote.

Then came a letter from Hillary Rodham Clinton, who knows more than a little about losing political races to boys.

"It's not easy to run for a role that's only being sought by boys," the former secretary of state and Democratic presidential nominee wrote to Martha. "While I know you may have been disappointed that you did not win President, I am so proud of you for deciding to run in the first place."

The 8-year-old was blown away by the the note. So was her dad, Albert.

He's not sure how the first female presidential nominee from a major party got his family's address, or how she heard about Martha's loss.

He had posted news about the school election on his Facebook page, and he is in the political polling business, so he assumes someone brought it to the attention of the former first lady.

"It remains a mystery," he told InsideEdition.com Tuesday. "She got wind of it. Then I received a text from my wife. She had just shown the letter to Martha."

Ever the politico's daughter, Martha initially dismissed the envelope as some kind of mailer. But after reading Clinton's letter, "she was just tickled pink," her dad said. "It made her feel really good."

It also helped take the sting out of losing, he said. "It was a really nice gesture," he said.

Martha has written a thank you note to Clinton, and recently put it in the mail. Martha said she's planning to run again next year, and for coming in second in the recent class election, she will serve as vice president.

As for Clinton's letter, "she's having it framed," her father said. And she's invited Clinton to speak at her school. 

RELATED STORIES