WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama plans to send supporters a text or e-mail message with a video announcing his intention to run for re-election, multiple Democratic sources tell CNN.
The message could come as early as Monday morning. The sources say his campaign team also hopes to file papers with the Federal Election Commission Monday to launch his 2012 re-election campaign.
The timing of the announcement and the filing could change depending on outside events. The White House is closely watching negotiations on Capitol Hill over the 2011 spending bill, which must be resolved this week to avoid a government shutdown.
This would come more than a week before the president hosts his first re-election fund-raiser in Chicago on April 14. These Democrats say no public event is planned because the White House wants to downplay the announcement and minimize the political distraction.
The president is making his campaign official slightly earlier than is typical for an incumbent so he can get a jump on fund-raising in a season that's likely to shatter all records. Obama’s team has been asking campaign bundlers to raise $350,000 each, no easy task since campaign finance laws limit gifts to $2,500 per donor. Two sources tell CNN the campaign team hopes that in total their bundlers will raise $500 million, leaving the campaign to raise another $500 million and amass a record-breaking $1 billion war chest.
According to these sources, the president has made calls to top donors and conference calls are planned this week to supporters and key Democratic groups. Vice President Joe Biden is already planning to be in New Hampshire Monday and will meet with key supporters in that crucial early voting state. For the past few weeks, Jim Messina, who will manage the campaign, and Patrick Gaspard, executive director of the DNC, have been flying around the country meeting with frustrated donors working to get them re-engaged.
So far no Republican contenders have formally announced. But these days the likely Republican presidential contenders are making endless visits to key early voting states and meeting with supporters across the country.
One top Democrat says, "The Republicans are out there day in and day out beating up on the president - they're basically running without filing. So to say we're going first isn't totally fair." This person adds, "No one wants to start running now. The president is engaged in the country, this is about getting (campaign) staff up and running."
Additionally, top Democrats say two former White House staffers are likely to set up a third-party outside spending group. Former Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton and Sean Sweeney, former aide to then-Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, have been approached by Democratic donors who are concerned about countering the influence of Karl Rove and the Koch brothers in the upcoming 2012 election.
From CNN Politics
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You mean for like high school class secretary?
He's running for re-election? HOLY COW! What a shocking development! I don't think anyone saw this one coming. We're caught totally off-guard.
Well, doesn't matter. He could have announced a year ago and he still won't win.
would just be a waste of time and money no one wants this clown back
Why???
I LOVE OBAMA
YAYY!!
OBAMA 2012!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me!
Obama 2012. Good for America.
Just when the Republicans thought they had a chance of winning...
I voted for Obama in 08.I will not make that mistake again.
Yes ! We're 100% behind you President Obama ! Obama 2012 !
Go Obama!!! you save us...Please another term. First to post!!!
I honestly hope that if anyone decides to vote for this sack of crap for re-election that they re-think their position because he's nothing but a deceitful liar that should be deported from this country and hanged until he no longer breathes because he's a worthless liar like all the rest of the politicians that have been elected over the last few decades. NOBAMA!!!!!!
Yes We Can it time for the peoples man to fight for the American People. The working people, We must take the house back from the Tea party who is for the Rich people and they want to keep the working people down. While the rich don't pay any taxes. But just keep getting more richer. Yes We Can,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
So far I have seen no one that the rethugligans have proposed to switch my vote...
or for that matter the dems...
Sometimes its just better to give it up
OMG! What a surprise! Who would have thought it! What a non-event.
Wait, I thought cnn claimed to be a news site. News is when a politician decides not to run again, not when they tell us the obvious.
He'll be re-elected, as the repubs have no credible candidates.
He's got my vote over the pack of ignorant unqualified slobs that can better be called the "Second Rat Pack Republicans!"
Why bother?
I am all ready to start working for President Obama as I did the last time.
Glad to hear it. President Obama has my vote!
Why the hell NOT.
The Republicans have their heads so far up their behinds with Sarah Palin running around nonsense like a puppet and John Bohner crying because the sun came up-who the hell is their to challenge barak Obama anyway?
please just go away obummer............but send me my check first
(you know, that spread the wealth around thingy)
-commie pig