Post by pledm on Jan 16, 2007 11:48:21 GMT -5
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) of Illinois jumped in the 2008 White House race on Tuesday, promising to bring Americans together and "change our politics" with a campaign that could make him the first black president in U.S. history.
Obama, a freshman senator and rising party star, formed a committee to begin raising money and hiring staff to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to succeed Republican President George W. Bush.
He plans a formal campaign launch in his hometown of Chicago on February 10.
"Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions," Obama said in a video message announcing his bid.
"We have to change our politics, and come together around our common interests and concerns as Americans," he said.
Obama, 45, is the fifth Democrat in a White House race expected to be led on the Democratic side by Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who has not said whether she will run but has promised an announcement soon.
Obama's candidacy has stoked enthusiasm among grass-roots Democrats looking for fresh-faced alternative to Clinton, who some fear is too polarizing to win a general election campaign next year.
Obama's visit to the early primary state of New Hampshire last month drew sold-out crowds and more than 150 journalists, creating early enthusiasm for his bid.
In his statement, Obama said the decisions in Washington over the last six years have put the country "in a precarious place."
"But challenging as they are, it's not the magnitude of our problems that concerns me the most. It's the smallness of our politics," he said.
Clinton leads early polls of the Democratic field, but Obama's standing has risen sharply in the last few months as he pondered a bid.
Other Democrats in the race include 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd.
I like this guy so far have been following him the last 2yrs.
Obama, a freshman senator and rising party star, formed a committee to begin raising money and hiring staff to campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination to succeed Republican President George W. Bush.
He plans a formal campaign launch in his hometown of Chicago on February 10.
"Our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan, so gummed up by money and influence, that we can't tackle the big problems that demand solutions," Obama said in a video message announcing his bid.
"We have to change our politics, and come together around our common interests and concerns as Americans," he said.
Obama, 45, is the fifth Democrat in a White House race expected to be led on the Democratic side by Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York, who has not said whether she will run but has promised an announcement soon.
Obama's candidacy has stoked enthusiasm among grass-roots Democrats looking for fresh-faced alternative to Clinton, who some fear is too polarizing to win a general election campaign next year.
Obama's visit to the early primary state of New Hampshire last month drew sold-out crowds and more than 150 journalists, creating early enthusiasm for his bid.
In his statement, Obama said the decisions in Washington over the last six years have put the country "in a precarious place."
"But challenging as they are, it's not the magnitude of our problems that concerns me the most. It's the smallness of our politics," he said.
Clinton leads early polls of the Democratic field, but Obama's standing has risen sharply in the last few months as he pondered a bid.
Other Democrats in the race include 2004 vice presidential nominee John Edwards, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich and Connecticut Sen. Chris Dodd.
I like this guy so far have been following him the last 2yrs.
