Obama, Gingrich file for Illinois ballot

SPRINGFIELD — Barack Obama and Newt Gingrich are the latest presidential candidates to file for a spot on the Illinois primary ballot.

Aides to both men filed their paperwork Friday.

The campaign for President Obama, an Illinois Democrat, did not say how many signatures they collected on nominating petitions.

Republican Newt Gingrich’s campaign says he collected 32,000.

But the State Board of Elections limits candidates to submitting 5,000 signatures. Three thousand of them must be valid for a candidate to qualify for the ballot.

Gingrich and Obama join Ron Paul, Rick Perry and Mitt Romney, among others.