Obama to Form Exploratory Committee

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Because it’s our job to tell you these things, Barack Obama has posted a video on his website declaring his decision…. to form a presidential exploratory committee.

Obama says that what concerns him most about the current atmosphere in America is the “smallness of our politics.” He continues, “Today, our leaders in Washington seem incapable of working together in a practical, common-sense way. Politics has become so bitter and partisan and gummed up by money and influence that we can’t tackle the big problems that demand solutions, and that’s what we have to change.”

To bring the field up to date, former VP candidate and senator from North Carolina John Edwards has declared his candidacy, as have Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack. Senators Joe Biden of Delaware and Chris Dodd of Connecticut have also said they will seek the nomination.

Other Democrats mentioned as possible candidates include John Kerry, Al Gore, New Mexico Gov. and former ambassador to the U.N. Bill Richardson, retired Army General Wesley Clark, and the Rev. Al Sharpton.

Oh, and Hillary.

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WE CAME UP SHORT.

We just wrapped up a shorter-than-normal, urgent-as-ever fundraising drive and we came up about $45,000 short of our $300,000 goal.

That means we're going to have upwards of $350,000, maybe more, to raise in online donations between now and June 30, when our fiscal year ends and we have to get to break-even. And even though there's zero cushion to miss the mark, we won't be all that in your face about our fundraising again until June.

So we urgently need this specific ask, what you're reading right now, to start bringing in more donations than it ever has. The reality, for these next few months and next few years, is that we have to start finding ways to grow our online supporter base in a big way—and we're optimistic we can keep making real headway by being real with you about this.

Because the bottom line: Corporations and powerful people with deep pockets will never sustain the type of journalism Mother Jones exists to do. The only investors who won’t let independent, investigative journalism down are the people who actually care about its future—you.

And we hope you might consider pitching in before moving on to whatever it is you're about to do next. We really need to see if we'll be able to raise more with this real estate on a daily basis than we have been, so we're hoping to see a promising start.

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