Politics | President Obama Obama to Launch 2012 Campaign: Could Be First $1B Run President expected to file formal papers on Monday By John Johnson Posted Apr 2, 2011 11:05 AM CDT Copied President Obama pauses while speaking during his visit to a UPS shipping facility in Landover, Md., Friday, April 1, 2011. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) President Obama will make it official next week, reports Lynn Sweet at the Chicago Sun-Times: He's running for re-election. The president is expected to file his papers with the Federal Election Commission as early as Monday to be a 2012 candidate, a move that will allow his camp to start collecting contributions. The more eye-popping part of the news is that insiders think the president will need to raise even more than the $750 million he got in 2008. Which means the nation's first billion-dollar campaign may be in the offing. Read These Next UPS driver hits the Slip 'N Slide with some partying teens. Kohberger agrees to plea deal in Idaho killings. Death certificate reveals Brian Wilson's cause of death. Lorde's risque photo causes a fuss. Report an error