Good evening,
(applause)
Thank you everyone for coming. I know this has been as long and grueling a process for you as it has been for me. From the bottom of my heart, I offer my thanks. And your country offers its thanks, for your efforts and your inspiring work in both participating in and strengthening the democratic process.
(applause)
First, I must offer both love and gratitude to to my supporters. It is because of your spirit and determination that this race has been so inspiring and captivating.
This has been a long and arduous journey. I know there are probably many people out there who would have liked to have seen me drop out a long time ago. Probably from both sides of the aisle. (crowd laughs)
I would also like to give thanks to those who supported and worked for my opponent and friend Senator Obama. Tonight I called Barack to offer my congratulations, and inform him that I am hereby suspending my campaign for President.
But that isn’t where this story ends. For me or for you.
I’ve run my campaign based on what used to work in this country’s politics. For decades now the prevailing winds have told us that national politics needs to be divisive. In order to get some votes, you have to give up others. And despite what I would have liked to have hoped, I believed that. I bet my path to the White House on the idea that our country isn’t yet ready to move past that.
But in the past few months, a strange thing happened. Senator Obama’s campaign gained traction. The enthusiasm and numbers of his supporters grew, and grew, and finally I had to consider that maybe I was wrong. Maybe this country IS ready to move forward.
It is because of this that I am suspending my campaign for the Presidency. Again, I am grateful to my supporters who have stood by me through thick and thin. To you, I say this : Don’t be disappointed in this result. Your country is ready to stand up tall, to rise above the muck and the pettiness that has polluted our politics for far too long. And it needs your help to make the transition. To make that CHANGE.
If there is to be some good to come out of my misdirected campaign, I hope it is that Democrats are reminded that we can and should fight for what we believe in, and that we should fight hard. Nothing is going to come easy.
In that spirit, I again offer my congratulations to Senator Obama, and offer my full support in helping to stomp some Republican ass come November.
Yes. We. Can!
Good night!
(In the background, Michael Jackson’s Man in the Mirror plays)
I’m Gonna Make A Change,
For Once In My Life
It’s Gonna Feel Real Good,
Gonna Make A Difference
Gonna Make It Right . . .