Obama confirms run for president

Obama confirms run for president - NYT: "Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois took his first step into the Democratic presidential race Tuesday by opening an exploratory committee to raise money and begin building a campaign designed 'to change our politics.' He said he would make a formal declaration Feb. 10 in Illinois.

'Running for the presidency is a profound decision -- a decision no one should make on the basis of media hype or personal ambition alone,' Obama said in a video address e-mailed to his supporters. 'So before I committed myself and my family to this race, I wanted to be sure that this was right for us and, more importantly, right for the country.'

Obama disclosed his decision on his Web site. He spent the rest of the day phoning Democratic leaders in Iowa, New Hampshire and other states with early contests in the 2008 nominating race."