Marty Walsh final event

Boston mayoral candidate State Representative Marty Walsh speaks at his final campaign event with his longtime girlfriend Lorrie Higgins and daughter Lauren Campbell.

(Garrett Quinn, MassLivela)

BOSTON — Moments before taking the stage at the Park Plaza Hotel to celebrate his close victory over City Councilor John Connolly, Boston mayor-elect Marty Walsh took phone calls from major dignitaries including President Barack Obama and Mayor Tom Menino.

Reporters waiting for his speech were grumpy that Walsh was running late but one VIP did not delay Walsh's arrival on stage: Vice President Joe Biden.

Biden initially called former Ted Kennedy staffer Marty Walsh to congratulate and started the phone call saying "You son of a gun!" The mixup is a common occurrence for the lesser known former staffer according to those with knowledge of the phone call.

Biden later called the correct Walsh but missed him and left a voicemail congratulating him on his win in the race according to Walsh.

Walsh defeated Connolly on Tuesday by less than 5,000 votes in Boston's first open mayoral contest since 1993. Walsh, currently a state representative from Dorchester, will be inaugurated mayor on January 6, 2014.

Walsh has been a member of the state legislature since 1997 when he won four-person race against now Attorney General Martha Coakley for Jim Brett's old seat.

More

* How Marty Walsh did it: 5 keys to the comeback victory

* John Connolly says he has no regrets about not going negative

* VIDEO: Mayor-elect Walsh honored by congratulatory phone calls