KEY POINTS:
WASHINGTON - Senator John McCain said today that he will be a candidate for president in 2008 and plans a formal announcement in April.
The Arizona Republican made the announcement during an interview on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, which was taped for broadcast today.
"I am announcing that I will be a candidate for President of the United States," McCain told Letterman.
McCain said he would make a formal announcement in April.
McCain, former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney lead a large field of Republicans eyeing a 2008 White House run.
Other likely Republican contenders include former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas, former Virginia Governor James Gilmore, former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson and Representatives Duncan Hunter of California and Tom Tancredo of Colorado.
- REUTERS