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| Obama launches presidential bid | Obama launches presidential bid |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Democratic Senator Barack Obama has launched his presidential campaign with a speech in which he pledged to "build a more hopeful America". | Democratic Senator Barack Obama has launched his presidential campaign with a speech in which he pledged to "build a more hopeful America". |
| He began his official campaign with a call for the Iraq war to end, saying US troops must withdraw by spring 2008. | He began his official campaign with a call for the Iraq war to end, saying US troops must withdraw by spring 2008. |
| Mr Obama is considered by many to be the first African-American candidate with a realistic chance of winning. | Mr Obama is considered by many to be the first African-American candidate with a realistic chance of winning. |
| He, along with Senator Hillary Clinton, is leading the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 2008 vote. | He, along with Senator Hillary Clinton, is leading the race for the Democratic Party's nomination for the 2008 vote. |
| A large crowd of supporters braved the sub-zero temperatures in Springfield, Illinois to watch Mr Obama make his announcement. | |
| In the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States Barack Obama class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/3936013.stm">Profile: Barack Obama He spoke to the crowd of his working life in the state over the last 20 years, first as a community worker, then as a civil rights lawyer and finally as a US senator. | |
| He said it was the lessons learnt watching the daily struggles many faced that had ignited in him a desire for change. | |
| "That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States," Mr Obama said. | "That is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a divided house to stand together, where common hopes and common dreams still live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States," Mr Obama said. |
| Changing politics | Changing politics |
| As he made the announcement the gathered crowd cheered and chanted his name. | As he made the announcement the gathered crowd cheered and chanted his name. |
| But having served just one term as a senator and with no experience of executive office, many have questioned whether Mr Obama's skills match his ambition. | But having served just one term as a senator and with no experience of executive office, many have questioned whether Mr Obama's skills match his ambition. |
| As he declared his candidacy Mr Obama acknowledged that fact saying: | As he declared his candidacy Mr Obama acknowledged that fact saying: |
| I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change Barack Obama | I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change Barack Obama |
| "I recognise that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity to this announcement. I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change." | "I recognise that there is a certain presumptuousness in this, a certain audacity to this announcement. I know that I have not spent a long time learning the ways of Washington, but I have been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington have to change." |
| Ahead of the speech in Springfield Mr Obama appeared in an online video message to his supporters. | Ahead of the speech in Springfield Mr Obama appeared in an online video message to his supporters. |
| In it he expressed a desire to re-engage with people on a grass roots level, saying that together they are beginning "a great journey to take our country back and fundamentally change the nature of politics". | In it he expressed a desire to re-engage with people on a grass roots level, saying that together they are beginning "a great journey to take our country back and fundamentally change the nature of politics". |
| Troops out plan | Troops out plan |
| Instead of being cynical about politics he asked people to believe in the possibility they can make an impact on people's everyday lives. | Instead of being cynical about politics he asked people to believe in the possibility they can make an impact on people's everyday lives. |
| 2008 main contenders | |
| But he said that the first priority ending the conflict in Iraq: | But he said that the first priority ending the conflict in Iraq: |
| "All of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. | "All of this cannot come to pass until we bring an end to this war in Iraq. |
| "America, it's time to start bringing our troops home. It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war. | "America, it's time to start bringing our troops home. It's time to admit that no amount of American lives can resolve the political disagreement that lies at the heart of someone else's civil war. |
| That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008." | That's why I have a plan that will bring our combat troops home by March of 2008." |
| Mr Obama was elected to the US Senate after Congress voted to support President George W Bush in his decision to go to war in Iraq, but in 2002 made a speech opposing the conflict. | Mr Obama was elected to the US Senate after Congress voted to support President George W Bush in his decision to go to war in Iraq, but in 2002 made a speech opposing the conflict. |
| He went on to criticise the current administration for what he called a failure of leadership to address issues like America's dependence on oil and a failing educational system. | |
| Race issue | |
| Mr Obama burst on to the national scene two-and-a-half years ago, delivering a stirring keynote speech at the Democratic party convention. | Mr Obama burst on to the national scene two-and-a-half years ago, delivering 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 him win a seat in the US Senate that year and subsequently set him on a fast track to vie for the White House. | His declaration that there was no white or black America, but a United States of America helped him win a seat in the US Senate that year and subsequently set him on a fast track to vie for the White House. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY Senator Barack Obama could help the US to win world support. V Siva, Toronto Send us your comments | |
| Time magazine has dubbed Mr Obama "America's hottest political phenomenon" and US chat show host Oprah Winfrey urged him to announce his candidacy on her programme. | Time magazine has dubbed Mr Obama "America's hottest political phenomenon" and US chat show host Oprah Winfrey urged him to announce his candidacy on her programme. |
| But instead he chose to launch his presidential campaign on the very spot where Abraham Lincoln once denounced the divisions in America caused by slavery. | But instead he chose to launch his presidential campaign on the very spot where Abraham Lincoln once denounced the divisions in America caused by slavery. |
| However, unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which, according to our correspondent, makes some African-Americans wary of him. | However, unlike previous black presidential candidates, Mr Obama was not part of the civil rights movement, which, according to our correspondent, makes some African-Americans wary of him. |
| His mixed race heritage - with a white mother from Kansas, and a black father from Kenya - has in fact led some observers to suggest that he is an African and an American, but not an African-American. | His mixed race heritage - with a white mother from Kansas, and a black father from Kenya - has in fact led some observers to suggest that he is an African and an American, but not an African-American. |
| Though undoubtedly ambitious and charismatic, with relatively little national experience and formidable opponents, including Clinton, many question whether he can really secure the Democratic nomination, and whether he has the depth of policy to match. | Though undoubtedly ambitious and charismatic, with relatively little national experience and formidable opponents, including Clinton, many question whether he can really secure the Democratic nomination, and whether he has the depth of policy to match. |
| Mr Obama has tried to answer critics in recent weeks, our correspondent says, introducing a bill that calls for the phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq. | Mr Obama has tried to answer critics in recent weeks, our correspondent says, introducing a bill that calls for the phased redeployment of US troops from Iraq. |