It's Official: Obama Launches 2012 Bid

President Obama has announced his reelection bid via web video—though he doesn’t say a word in it. Instead, it's a montage of supporters explaining why they’ll back the president in 2012. “We’re not leaving it up to chance,” or assuming he’ll win because he’s the incumbent, notes a supporter from Nevada. “It’s an election that we have to win.” The video’s title: “It begins with us.”

Obama sent out an email to supporters saying that “today, we are filing papers to launch our 2012 campaign.” That means fundraising can begin, notes the Huffington Post. Obama’s campaign manager will be Jim Messina, his former deputy chief of staff; the operation will be based in Chicago. Obama-Biden stickers are now for sale on BarackObama.com; the site proclaims: “2012 begins now, and this is where you say you’re in,” notes Politico. (More President Obama stories.)