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President Barack
Obama launched his 2012 re-election campaign on Monday, framing his
final stint as a candidate as an effort to cement and expand the
policies he has enacted from the White House.

Mr Obama, a
Democrat who won a sweeping victory over Republican Senator John McCain
in 2008 with a message of change, said in a low-key email to supporters
that he was filing papers to start his re-election bid in a formal way.

“So even though I’m
focused on the job you elected me to do, and the race may not reach
full speed for a year or more, the work of laying the foundation for
our campaign must start today,” he said in the email.

“We’ve always known that lasting change wouldn’t come quickly or easily. …

But as my
administration and folks across the country fight to protect the
progress we’ve made — and make more — we also need to begin
mobilising for 2012, long before the time comes for me to begin
campaigning in earnest.” As president, Mr Obama secured an overhaul of
the healthcare system and financial regulation.

He has already
started fundraising for Democrats in recent weeks. Filing papers with
the Federal Election Commission will allow Mr Obama to fill his own
campaign coffers directly as well.

Political observers expect the Obama campaign to raise an unprecedented $1 billion for the race.

Mr Obama raised a record $750 million to win the 2008 election while running as a senator from Illinois.

A handful of
potential Republican challengers including former Massachusetts
Governor Mitt Romney and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty are laying the
groundwork for their own campaigns but none of them has formally
announced a candidacy.

Early polls show Mr Obama leading potential Republican rivals.

Focus shift?

Mr Obama’s
announcement could generate criticism that he is switching attention
too early to his re-election hopes. The low-key nature of his
announcement seemed designed to rebuff that criticism.

The president is in
the middle of a budget battle with congressional Republicans and has
focused his message in recent weeks on reducing U.S. dependence on
foreign oil and investing in innovation and education — themes he
likely will highlight in his bid to hold on to the White House next
year.

Mr Obama also has defended U.S. military intervention in Libya.

Republicans say Mr
Obama’s policies to boost the economy and expand healthcare coverage
are too expensive. They are pressing Democrats to make deep spending
cuts to shrink the deficit, another issue that could play a crucial
role in the campaign.

Mr Obama’s email,
which closed with a button labeled “donate” that linked to his campaign
website, said his 2012 bid would have to be more innovative than his
successful 2008 organisation.

“In the coming
days, supporters like you will begin forging a new organization that
we’ll build together in cities and towns across the country,” he said
in the note. REUTERS