Hello, Chicago!
If there is anyone out there who still doubts thatAmerica is a place where all things are possible; whostill wonders if the dream of our founders is alive inour time; who still questions the power of ourdemocracy, tonight is your answer.
I's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has neverseen; by people who waited three hours and four hours,many for the very first time in their lives, becausethey believed that this time must be different; thattheir voice could be that difference.
I's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and notdisabled — Americans who sent a message to the worldthat we have never been a collection of red states andblue states; we are, and always will be, the UnitedStates of America.
I's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtfulof what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc ofhistory and bend it once more toward the hope of abetter day.
I's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at thisdefining moment, change has come to America. I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he'sfought even longer and harder for the country he loves.He has endured sacrifices for America that most of uscannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for theservice rendered by this brave and selfless leader. Icongratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they haveachieved, and I look forward to working with them torenew this natio's promise in the months ahead.
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men andwomen he grew up with on the streets of Scranton androde with on that train home to Delaware, the vice-president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. 。But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to — it belongs to you.
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16years, the rock of our family and the love of my life,our natio's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha andMalia, I love you both so much, and you have earned thenew puppy tha's coming with us to the White House. Andwhile she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother iswatching, along with the family that made me who I am. Imiss them tonight, and know that my debt to them isbeyond measure.
To my campaign manager, David Plouffe; my chief strategist, David Axelrod; and the best campaign teamever assembled in the history of politics — you madethis happen, and I am forever grateful for what you'vesacrificed to get it done.
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We did't start with much money or many endorsements. Ourcampaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington —it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the livingrooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 tothis cause. It grew strength from the young people whorejected the myth of their generatio's apathy; who lefttheir homes and their families for jobs that offeredlittle pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young peoplewho braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knockon the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions ofAmericans who volunteered and organized, and proved thatmore than two centuries later, a government of thepeople, by the people and for the people has notperished from this earth. This is your victory.
I know you did't do this just to win an election, and I know you did't do it for me. You did it because youunderstand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. Foreven as we celebrate tonight, we know the challengesthat tomorrow will bring are the greatest of ourlifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worstfinancial crisis in a century. Even as we stand heretonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up inthe deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan torisk their lives for us. There are mothers and fatherswho will lie awake after their children fall asleep andwonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay theirdoctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is newenergy to harness and new jobs to be created; newschools to build and threats to meet and alliances torepair.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, butAmerica — I have never been more hopeful than I amtonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as apeople will get there.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who wo't agree with every decision or policy I make aspresident, and we know that government ca't solve everyproblem. But I will always be honest with you about thechallenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join inthe work of remaking this nation the only way i's beendone in America for 221 years — block by block, brickby brick, callused hand by callused hand.
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is notthe change we seek — it is only the chance for us tomake that change. And that cannot happen if we go backto the way things were. It cannot happen without you. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch inand work harder and look after not only ourselves, buteach other. Let us remember that if this financialcrisis taught us anything, i's that we cannot have athriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In thiscountry, we rise or fall as one nation — as one people.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that haspoisoned our politics for so long. Let us remember thatit was a man from this state who first carried thebanner of the Republican Party to the White House — aparty founded on the values of self-reliance, individualliberty and national unity. Those are values we allshare, and while the Democratic Party has won a greatvictory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility anddetermination to heal the divides that have held backour progress.
As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, We are not enemies, but friends... Though passion mayhave strained, it must not break our bonds ofaffection. And, to those Americans whose support I haveyet to earn, I may not have won your vote, but I hearyour voices, I need your help, and I will be yourpresident, too.
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who arehuddled around radios in the forgotten corners of ourworld — our stories are singular, but our destiny isshared, and a new dawn of American leadership is athand. To those who would tear this world down: We willdefeat you. To those who seek peace and security: Wesupport you. And to all those who have wondered ifAmerica's beacon still burns as bright: Tonight, weproved once more that the true strength of our nationcomes not from the might of our arms or the scale of ourwealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope.