Obama to address Illinois General Assembly next month

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama will return to Springfield, Illinois, the place where his political career began, to mark the ninth anniversary of his entrance into the 2008 presidential race.

Obama plans to address the Illinois General Assembly on Feb. 10, the day after New Hampshire voters go to the polls to begin choosing his successor.

Obama announced in Springfield in February 2007 that he was running for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. He was then a first-term U.S. senator.

An email to members of Obama's alumni association says he'll speak to Illinois lawmakers about "building a better politics."

Obama campaigned on a pledge to change the tone in Washington. He recently said he regretted that the situation hadn't improved, but has worsened.

Obama entered politics as an Illinois state senator.