WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama says he’s releasing his long-form birth certificate because the country doesn’t have time for the “distraction” and “silliness” of questions being persistently raised about where he was born.

The president spoke at the White House Wednesday after taking the unexpected step of releasing the document, which supplements Hawaii’s official certification of the president’s birth there. Obama had released that during the campaign.

Polls show large numbers of Republicans continue to doubt Obama is a natural born citizen eligible to be president. Real estate mogul Donald Trump had seized on the issue as he weighs a GOP candidacy.

(AP) This handout image provided by the White House shows a copy of the long form of President Barack…
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Obama said the nation will solve its problems only if it’s not distracted by such issues.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

The White House released the long form of President Barack Obama’s birth certificate Wednesday in response to questions about whether he was really born in the U.S.

The certificate says Obama was born in Hawaii, which makes him eligible to hold the office of president. Obama released a standard short form before he was elected in 2008, but requested copies of his original birth from Hawaii officials this week in hopes of quieting the lingering controversy.

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