In keeping with his efforts of reaching across the aisle, President-elect Obama called Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R- FLA) three times on Wednesday. The reason for so many calls was that she hung up on him the first two times.
Believing him to be a prank-caller, Ros-Lehtinen refused to take his calls twice, hanging up on him, and a later call from Obamas Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel. Only when Representative Howard Berman, a colleague of Ros-Lehtinens and someone she knows well, called her and confirmed his identity by way of a shared anecdote did she realize her mistake.
Obama then proceeded to place a third call to the Representative, which she took. The Washington Post reports:
He told her It is very funny that you have twice hung up on me, to which she responded that South Florida radio stations are notorious for these jokes, her statement said. Obama told her that in Chicago they also have prank calls. Ileana told Obama that you are either very gracious to reach out in such a bipartisan manner or had run out of folks to call if you are truly calling me and Saturday Night Live could use a good Obama impersonator like you.
Ros-Lehtinen congratulated Obama on his victory, and stressed the need for better relations with Cuba and Israel, two of her primary issues.