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Obama to launch White House bid Obama to launch White House bid
(about 6 hours later)
Democratic Senator Barack Obama is set to officially launch his presidential campaign with a speech in Springfield, Illinois.Democratic Senator Barack Obama is set to officially launch his presidential campaign with a speech in Springfield, Illinois.
The 45-year-old is widely considered to be the first African-American candidate with a realistic chance of winning the presidency.The 45-year-old is widely considered to be the first African-American candidate with a realistic chance of winning the presidency.
It is just two-and-a-half years since Mr Obama burst on to the national scene.It is just two-and-a-half years since Mr Obama burst on to the national scene.
He delivered a stirring keynote speech at the Democratic party convention.He delivered a stirring keynote speech at the Democratic party convention.
His declaration that there was no white or black America, but a United States of America helped the son of a Kenyan father and a white Kansas mother win a seat in the US Senate that year.His declaration that there was no white or black America, but a United States of America helped the son of a Kenyan father and a white Kansas mother win a seat in the US Senate that year.
And as it has turned out, it set him on a fast track to a run at the White House. HAVE YOUR SAY Senator Barack Obama could help the US to win world support. V Siva, Toronto class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=5511&edition=1">Send us your comments And as it has turned out, it set him on a fast track to a run at the White House.
State senatorState senator
With his youth and mixed race background, Barack Obama promises a new type of politics.With his youth and mixed race background, Barack Obama promises a new type of politics.
He has pointedly chosen to launch his campaign on the very spot where Abraham Lincoln once denounced the divisions in America caused by slavery.He has pointedly chosen to launch his campaign on the very spot where Abraham Lincoln once denounced the divisions in America caused by slavery.
Unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which makes some African-Americans wary of him.Unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which makes some African-Americans wary of him.
His was an unconventional upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia before he went to study law at Harvard and became the first black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.His was an unconventional upbringing in Hawaii and Indonesia before he went to study law at Harvard and became the first black president of the prestigious Harvard Law Review.
Later on, after community work in Chicago, he entered Illinois state politics, serving in the senate there for several years.Later on, after community work in Chicago, he entered Illinois state politics, serving in the senate there for several years.
Yet, with relatively little national experience and formidable opponents, not least Hillary Clinton, many question whether he can really secure the Democratic nomination, whether he has the depth of policy to match his undoubted charisma and ambition.Yet, with relatively little national experience and formidable opponents, not least Hillary Clinton, many question whether he can really secure the Democratic nomination, whether he has the depth of policy to match his undoubted charisma and ambition.
Mr Obama has tried to answer critics in recent weeks, introducing a bill that calls for the phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq.Mr Obama has tried to answer critics in recent weeks, introducing a bill that calls for the phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq.
But his speech here in Illinois will be closely watched for both its policies and its passion.But his speech here in Illinois will be closely watched for both its policies and its passion.