Press Coverage of Rosenberg Presidential Exploratory Announcement

Gregg Rosenberg Forms Presidential Exploratory Committee

NEW YORK (GNN) – Gregg Rosenberg said Wednesday he is taking a first step toward running for president next year.

"I will be filing papers in the near future to create a presidential exploratory committee," the New Jersey native said, adding that he will announce his final decision in the coming months.

"Our leaders in Washington are focused on the 'politics of me' when they should be working on fixing the 'politics of you'. I say we've had enough of the bickering partisanship that has plagued our country, it's time to stand up and put the U back in USA," Rosenberg declared.

In an effort to show he is serious about campaign finance reform, Rosenberg has pledged to only accept campaign contributions of less then $118 and that supportors will only be allowed to contribute once. Rosenberg said, "I don't want peoples money, I want their support and vote. Running for President shouldn't be about raising $300 million, it should be about meeting 300 million Americans."

Rosenberg said he is interested in tackling the big problems, the small problems and the problems in-between. He wants to help the middle class, the poor and the upper class. Rosenberg said, "This election is not about me, it's about a better future for America and the American people."

Rosenberg said his final decision will be made based on what he learns over the next several weeks as he travels the country "meeting people and talking to them about how they think and feel about this great country we call home."

Rosenberg spokesman Isidore Rappoport said that the potential presidential candidate will not travel to the first four states on the nomination calendar -- Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada or South Carolina -- before his announcement.

The Federal Election Commission could neither confirm nor deny that it received Rosenberg's paperwork. Forming an exploratory committee is an initial -- but not a required step -- in running for president or any federal office. Such committees allow potential candidates to begin quietly raising funds and "testing the waters" on whether they should run for office.

If Rosenberg runs, he will join an already crowded field of candidates who either have declared their intentions to seek the 2008 nomination or who are widely expected to run including Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Sen. John McCain, Former Sen. John Edwards of North Carolina, former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, Sens. Joe Biden of Delaware, Sen. Chris Dodd of Connecticut, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.

According to a CNN/Opinion Research Corp. poll conducted on December 5-7, Rosenberg trailed only all candidates when registered Democrats and Republicans were asked who their top choice for the party's presidential nominee would be. When asked for comment Rosenberg said, "I don't believe in polls, I believe in the American people."