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Major announcement: Obama backs Bears

Illinois senator mocks presidential hype by revealing his choice ... in NFL

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Obama announces ... he's a Bears fan
Dec. 12: "Today" show host Matt Lauer takes a look at Illinois senator and potential presidential hopeful Barack Obama's appearance on ESPN's "Monday Night Football."

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updated 10:20 a.m. ET Dec. 12, 2006

WASHINGTON - 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 ...”

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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.

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