Feb 10, 2007 6:06 pm US/Central
Sen. Barack Obama Enters 2008 Presidential Race
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) ―
U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D.-Ill., embarked Saturday on what he's calling "a great journey."
His announcement here at the Old State Capitol that he is running for president is the start of a long weekend for the Chicago Democrat, who will travel to Iowa and Chicago before wrapping up Monday in New Hampshire.
"It was here, in Springfield, where north, south, east and west come together that I was reminded of the essential decency of the American people -- where I came to believe that through this decency, we can build a more hopeful America," said Obama, who served eight years in the state Senate. "And that is why, in the shadow of the Old State Capitol, where Lincoln once called on a house divided 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 of America."
The square in front of the Old State Capitol was crammed with screaming spectators, many holding blue and white Obama signs. They interrupted his speech throughout, chanting, "O-bam-a!"
"Look at all of you," Obama said as began speaking. "Goodness."
While the building where Obama delivered his speech has deep ties to Abraham Lincoln, the scene around it bustled with the signs of a modern-day presidential campaign.
Satellite trucks lined the street, TV crews were there and cables snaked along a sidewalk where there is a statue of Lincoln.
It was excitement that Bethany and Tim Scates of Ridgway couldn't resist.
The married couple drove almost four hours from their home in southern Illinois to witness Obama's announcement.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us," said Bethany Scates, who was bundled against the frigid weather along with thousands of others filing into the square on Saturday.
People sported homemade campaign buttons, including some from Dan Richards of Springfield, who made about 3,000 badges for the occasion. His asking price for the "Obama for President" buttons was $3 each or two for $5.
Tucker Copi, 17, is not old enough to vote yet, but went to the speech because he thinks Obama is "young and fresh."
"It's good that he doesn't have too much baggage in office. He's young, a great speaker and the right guy for the job," Copi said.
Obama's decision to make his presidential announcement in Illinois' capital city -- instead of another location like Chicago, where he lives, or in Washington -- earned him accolades.
It also continued to feed the comparisons between Obama and Lincoln, the nation's 16th president. Lincoln served eight years in the Illinois legislature and two years in Congress.
"It's going to be the greatest thing in Illinois since Abraham Lincoln ran for president," said state Senate President Emil Jones, a Chicago Democrat.
While Helen Bailie of Petersburg didn't plan to be at Obama's announcement, the self-described Republican with some Democrat views still is glad he's making the announcement in central Illinois, especially if Chicago was the other choice.
"Chicago is not Illinois," Bailie said.
The big city, she said, is just different from the rest of the state, which is made up of smaller locales. She sees Obama's choice to come to Springfield as a nod to that.
"He's being respectful about it," she said.
But Obama isn't forgetting about the country's third largest city and the money it can pump into a presidential campaign.
He has a rally planned for Sunday at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a fundraiser later that night at a downtown hotel.
Springfield resident Mack Alexander said he's glad about the attention Obama's announcement is bringing to his town.
"It'll put us on the map," Alexander said. "Some people say 'Springfield, where's Springfield?"'
(© 2007 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
