Barack Obama Declares Bid for the White House

Barack Obama declared himself a candidate for the White House on Saturday, evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to speak and unite, promising to lead a new generation as the country's first black president.

The senator from Illinois announced his candidacy from the state capital where he began his career in the State Legislature just 10 years ago, and in front of the same building where Lincoln served his eight years in the Illinois Legislature.

"We can build a more hopeful America," Obama said. "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 live, I stand before you today to announce my candidacy for president of the United States."

Barack Obama will travel to Iowa on Saturday and Sunday before a rally Sunday night in Chicago at the UIC Pavillion.

This will be pretty cool I actually live about 1 block from where Obama will be speaking on Sunday in Chicago.  I am going to go check it out and hopefully get some good pictures.