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April 5, 2011

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Obama's re-election bid begins

US President Barack Obama formally launched his re-election campaign yesterday, urging supporters to mobilize to protect the change he's brought over the past two years.

Between now and the November 2012 election, the incumbent Democrat will work to convince a fickle America that Obama has delivered change, made the right moves and earned the chance to continue the job. He will have to defend policies that have proven divisive, chief among them his sweeping health care overhaul and his efforts to boost the slow-to-rebound economy.

"We've always known that lasting change wouldn't come quickly or easily. It never does," Obama said in an e-mail to more than 13 million supporters announcing his candidacy. "But as my administration and folks across the country fight to protect the progress we've made - and make more - we also need to begin mobilizing for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin campaigning in earnest."

He told them he was filing the necessary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission, and directed them to his new campaign website at www.barackobama.com, where a launch video featured clips of supporters talking about their continued backing of the Democrat.

"I don't agree with Obama on everything but I respect him and I trust him," Ed from North Carolina says, delivering what's certain to become a key part of the president's pitch as he tries to re-energize liberals who have criticized some of his policies and disillusioned independents.

Widely expected, the procedural step of launching a campaign was planned to coincide with the second fundraising quarter of the year. Filing paperwork will allow the president to begin raising money for what allies say could be a record-breaking haul of more than US$1 billion for his campaign. That begins this month.

The campaign is based in Chicago, and many of the same people from his first bid are involved, including campaign manager David Plouffe, now in the White House, and chief political strategist David Axelrod.

On the other side, the race for the Republican presidential nomination is just getting under way; more than a dozen Republicans are considering seeking the chance to challenge Obama in the next election. Only a few have taken steps toward a candidacy. Nevertheless, Obama said he's taking nothing for granted.

"The politics we believe in does not start with expensive TV ads or extravaganzas, but with you - with people organizing block-by-block, talking to neighbors, co-workers, and friends," he said in the e-mail.

 

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