One thing that Hillary can not claim is that she can turn out "thousands" to hear the announcement in the near polar cold of a midwest deep freeze.

Barack Obama announced his bid for president Saturday, a black man evoking Abraham Lincoln's ability to unite a nation and a Democrat portraying himself as a fresh face capable of leading a new generation.

"Let us transform this nation," he told thousands shivering in the cold at the campaign's kickoff.

Obama, 45, is the youngest candidate in the Democrats' 2008 primary field dominated by front-runner Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and filled with more experienced lawmakers. In an address from the state capital where he began his elective career 10 years ago, the first-term U.S. senator sought to distinguish himself as a staunch opponent of the Iraq war and a White House hopeful whose lack of political experience is an asset.

"I know I haven't spent a lot of time learning the ways of Washington. But I've been there long enough to know that the ways of Washington must change," Obama said to some of the loudest applause of his 20-minute speech.

Some things everyone should keep in mind. Obama's skill at triangulation will give him the oratorical upper hand against Hillary and Edwards. He comes off as both the true populist candidate (as opposed to photo-op Edwards.) And he is more true to the core of the democratic party given his war record, and natural sway he will have with black primary voters - than Hillary.

I don't care what the polls say, right now they are irrelevant - this is a state by state contest.

I know that many on the GOP side of things have taken to mocking Obama of late.

I still believe to do so is to underestimate him - and I believe THAT - could be the deadliest mistake of all.