Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts, announced his decision to make an official run for the Oval Office in 2008 at a press conference this morning in Michigan, the state his father once governed.

I'm trying to pull the video of his announcement. In the meantime, NRO's Kathryn Lopez has pulled a nice excerpt of the speech:

I believe the American people are the source of our strength. They always have been. They always will be. The American people: hard working, educated, innovative, ready to sacrifice for family and country, patriotic, seeking opportunity above dependence, God-fearing, free American people. When we need to call on the strength of America, we should strengthen the American people, not the American government!....

How is the American family made stronger? With marriage before children. With a mother and a father in the life of every child. With healthcare that is affordable and portable. With schools that succeed. With taxes that are lower. And with leaders who strive to demonstrate enduring values and morality.

UPDATE -- 02/13/07 @11:01 a.m.: Romney's campaign team has certainly played their cards well, at least where publicity is concerned. Currently Matt Drudge has the embargoed-till-delivery speech posted in full on his website. Maybe presidential hopefuls will now think twice before announcing a weekend when nobody's watching.