New York, March 26 (IANS) The New England Historic Genealogical Society has actually linked US presidential hopefuls Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton through a common lineage.

Tmz.com reports that the society is the largest non-profit genealogical organisation in the US. They claim that Obama and actor Brad Pitt are actually ninth cousins and that Hillary Clinton is related to Pitt's partner Angelina Jolie. They are also reportedly ninth cousins.

The reports also goes on to say that Obama is also a distant relative of US president George W. Bush and they are 10th cousins, once removed. Obama is linked to five other presidents including Harry S. Truman and Gerald Ford.

Hillary is a distant cousin of singers Madonna, Celine Dion and Alanis Morisstette because of the French-Canadian lineage on her mother's side.