Say Hello to the Next President of the United States: Barack Obama

Barack Obama announced his candidacy for President of the United States today with these words:

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.

And 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, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for President of the United States.

I got chills watching his speech. On Sept. 24, 2004, I met him in person in Philadelphia. And one of the most amazing things ever happened when a woman held up her baby and asked him to sign her baby's shirt. "I want to tell her she met the first black president of the United States." Two-and-a-half years later that still gives me chills. You can see a bunch of pix I took that day here.