Crossposted at One Million Strong, Daily Kos and The Albany Project.

Here is the press release:

Through the work of hundreds of volunteers, the Obama campaign filed for the New York State ballot and qualified for full delegate slates in all of New York’s 29 congressional districts.

“This campaign is not about me, it is about the hundreds of volunteers across New York who gathered signatures, and the millions of people across this country who want change we can believe in,” said Barack Obama. “I look forward to continuing to get to know the people of New York so that together we can change this country.”

Obama’s petition total, achieved without relying on paid help, reflects his strong grassroots support across New York. New York law requires 5,000 signatures for the presidential candidate and 500 signatures for each congressional district delegate slate.

The full delegate slate includes numerous elected officials in the state legislature, county and city governments, and Democratic Party clubs. Also represented on the slates are the leadership of dozens of grassroots organizations established in New York to support Obama’s presidential candidacy.

Why is this a big deal?

Because it positions Obama to win a LOT of delegates here on February 5. With proportional voting, any candidate receiving at least 15% of the vote gets delegates. If Obama won only 15 - 20% of the vote, he’d still get roughly 40 to 55 NY delegates. (Remember that Iowa has a total of 56). A grassroots Obama organization is in place in New York, and Obama supporters here are Fired Up!

Aren't all of the Democratic candidates going to be on the ballot in New York?

Clinton, Edwards, Biden, Richardson, Kucinich and Obama are on the statewide ballot (what happened to Dodd?). Only Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton collected enough signatures in every single Congressional District in the state. This shows the broad support that Obama has here.

Of course, the reality is that New York is Hillary's state. She is expected to win the majority of the vote, and the majority of delegates. But wins in one or more early state could provide the momentum to move a lot of Empire State support Obama's way.

How did this happen? How did Barack collect all the necessary signatures around the state?

Well, he did it district by district, with an army of foot soldiers who braved the elements day after day, week after week to make sure he's ready to TAKE New York on February 5.