Washington: Hillary Clinton hailed a historical "milestone" for women as she claimed victory Tuesday over rival Bernie Sanders in the Democratic White House nomination race.


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"Thanks to you, we`ve reached a milestone," she told cheering supporters at a rally in New York. "It`s the first time in our nation`s history that a woman will be a major party`s nominee."


Clinton`s win in New Jersey, one of six states voting on the last major date of the 2016 primary race, sealed in the party nomination and gave her a chance to become America`s first female president.


The former secretary of state held out an olive branch to her rival Sanders -- who has given no indication he plans to concede before the Democratic convention in July -- but whose supporters she needs to enlist in the looming showdown with Republican Donald Trump.


"I want to congratulate Senator Sanders for an extraordinary campaign," the 68-year-old Clinton said.


"Let there be no mistake, Senator Sanders, his campaign, and the vigorous debate that we`ve had about how to raise income, reduce inequality, increase upward mobility, have been very good for the democratic party and for America."


"We believe that we are stronger together. And the stakes in this election are high, and the choice is clear," she said -- before launching into a frontal attack on her Republican rival.


"Donald Trump is temperamentally unfit to be president and commander in chief," she charged.