[BurlyShirley]

Article published Dec 11, 2006

Major announcement from Obama ... senator backs Chicago Bears


WASHINGTON (AP) -Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, a potential presidential candidate, planned to end weeks of speculation Monday and tell a national audience ... he supports his hometown Chicago Bears.

Having some fun with all the political hype, Obama mocked the frenzied interest by taping the introduction to ESPN's ``Monday Night Football'' game between his hometown Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Rams.

``So tonight I'd like to put all the doubts to rest. And tonight, after a lot of thought and a good deal of soul-searching, I would like to announce to my hometown of Chicago and all of America that I'm ready ...''

Pause.

``For the Bears to go all the way!'' the Illinois senator said in a text released by his office.

In a teasing news release, his office said Monday afternoon that Obama would make an ``announcement'' before the game ``about an upcoming contest of great importance to the American people.''

Obama spent Sunday in the first-in-the-nation primary state of New Hampshire where he drew huge crowds, a crush of media and fueled talk of a White House bid.

``This is a contest about the future. A contest between two very different philosophies. A contest that will ultimately be decided in America's heartland,'' Obama said during the taped introduction. ``In Chicago, they're asking, does the new guy have enough experience to lead us to victory? In St. Louis, they're wondering, are we facing a record that's really so formidable? Or is it all just a bunch of hype?''

The Bears (10-2) faced the Rams (5-7) in St. Louis.

Although the game is on cable, last week's contest between Green Bay and Seattle drew 12.7 million viewers, good exposure for any candidate.

 

[kidwoo]

I heard Jimmy Carter likes peanut butter.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

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