Obama placed under Secret Service protection
 The US Secret Service will provide a security detail for Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) as he continues his presidential campaign, the Department of Homeland Security announced today.
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff authorized the security detail after consulting with Congress, CNN reported. No further details about Obama's protection were announced.
The Associated Press reported that no specific threats against the senator led to the Secret Service protection. The Secret Service commonly provides security details assigned to high-profile presidential candidates, although Obama is receiving his protection far earlier than most.
Sens. John Kerry and John Edwards received a Secret Service detail in February 2004, after the Iowa Caucuses. Hillary Clinton has had Secret Service protection that is offered to all former First Ladies, the AP reports.
Obama's campaign clashed earlier this year with a self-described pedophile who posted pictures of Obama's daughter online. The Smoking Gun published a letter from Obama's attorney to the man, Lindsay Ashford, demanding the pictures be removed, as RAW STORY reported previously.
Text of Secret Service statement follows:
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Secretary Chertoff has, after consultation with the congressional advisory committee, authorized the United States Secret Service, to protect presidential candidate Senate Barack Obama.
As a matter of procedure, we will not release any details of the deliberations or assessments that led to protection being initiated. For security reasons we will not release the timing, scope or details of any protective operations.
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