Thank you all. This is a beautiful day.

I'm choked up again. It's an overwhelming feeling. I couldn't have imagined a better scenario that what we have. For years we have been counting down to January 20, 2009 as Bush's last day. We were ready for somebody new. Anybody new. And now, instead of suffering through to one bad president's last day, we are looking ahead to Obama's first day. Optimism feels good. Let's bask in this rejuivination.

I have described politics as my football. I couldn't care less about the Giants or the Pats, but I'm a die-hard fan of democracy. As I drove through the cheering, honking crowds last night, celebrated with my own family and friends and watched the beautiful people gathered on television, I did not feel like my team had won the superbowl. I realized something much bigger is happening. This time things are different. This feels like an awakening.

No matter what happens from here, no matter what kind of President Obama makes, right now, right this very second, I have never felt more proud to be American. I have never felt more confident to hold my head up as a citizen of this great nation. We did an incredible thing yesterday.

As we all know, Barack Obama has a very hard road ahead of him. His campaign was easy compared to what lies ahead. I believe his team (including all of us) can do this. I really do believe. Barack Obama melts my cynicism like no politician has in history. He has reframed my mind as much as he has reframed Republican rhetoric. He has overcome a racial barrier, the fear and the hate that stood in his way thus far. Many of us felt his presidency would be impossible dream, but we have done this with him.

This campaign is not over. There is still deep-rooted fear in all of our hearts and we cannot look away now. Together we can continue to change this place, and ourselves. We can continue to wake up. We can find love and peace. Yes we can.