HE'S OFFICIALLY IN – AT 8:11 A.M. ET:  President Obama entered the 2012 race officially this morning with a web video.  Fox, the president's favorite network, not, reports:

In case there was any confusion, President Obama is officially running for re-election in 2012, his campaign announced Monday morning in a web video.

His campaign website, BarackObama.com, was updated with a "2012" logo and a video featuring grassroots activists.

The short message actually did not feature the president at all, trying to emphasize getting people involved on the ground.

The site also had this message, "This campaign is just kicking off. We're opening up offices, unpacking boxes, and starting a conversation with supporters like you to help shape our path to victory. 2012 begins now, and this is where you say you're in."

Obama is also expected to formally put in his paperwork with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) later Monday.

I feel so privileged just to be alive for this announcement, don't you?  When in your life have you been given such a thrill?  A rumor swept Washington that, as the announcement was made, a star appeared over the White House and three wise campaign contributors appeared in Buicks to pay homage.

In two years Obama has not established much of a record.  He got Obamacare through, but it remains unpopular with large numbers of Americans.  His foreign policy has yet to be determined.  I'd imagine his campaign will be largely negative, employing the usual scare tactics to panic voters into not voting Republican.  Obama cannot count on the level of enthusiasm from young voters that he had in 2008, but he can count on media that will, once again, fall in line.  Journalists hate to be proved wrong – and they rarely admit it anyway – and they have a major career investment in this president. 

Don't underestimate the Obama machine.  It is ruthless and cunning, one of the best we've ever seen in presidential politics.  With the help of the media, it put a minor Chicago politician in the White House.  It can keep him there unless our side puts up a spirited candidate willing to wage an all-out fight.  I'm not seeing that candidate yet.

April 4,  2011