Edward Kennedy
Monday, August 25, 2008

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Caroline. My fellow Democrats. My fellow Americans.

It is so wonderful to be here. Nothing, nothing was going to keep me away from this special gathering tonight.

I have come here to stand with you to change America, to restore its future, to rise to our best ideals, and to elect Barack Obama as President of the United States.

As I look ahead, I am strengthened by family and friendship. So many of you have been with me in the happiest and the hardest days. Together we have known success and set-backs, victory and defeat. But we have never lost our belief that we are all called to a better country and a newer world.

And I pledge to you that I will be there -- next January -- on the floor of the United States Senate, when we begin to write the next great chapter of American progress.

For me, this is a season of hope. New hope-for a just and fair prosperity for the many and not just the few. New hope -- and this is the cause of my life - New hope that we will break the old gridlock and guarantee that every American -- north, south, east and west -- young and old -- Will have decent, quality, affordable health care as a fundamental right and not a privilege.

We can meet the challenges. With Barack Obama- Yes we can. And finally, finally- Yes we will.

Barack Obama will close the book on the old politics of race against race, gender against gender, group against group, and straight against gay.

And Barack Obama will be a commander-in-chief who understands that young Americans in uniform must never ever be committed to a mistake, but always to a mission worthy of their bravery and sacrifice.

We are told that Barack Obama believes too much in an America of high purpose and bold endeavor.

But when John Kennedy thought of going to the moon, he didn't say, it's too far, we can't get there, we shouldn't even try.

Our people answered his call and rose to the challenge -- and today an American flag still marks the surface of the moon.

Yes, we are Americans. This is what we do. We reach the moon. We scale the heights. I know it. I've seen it. I've lived it. And we can do it again.

There is a new wave of change all around us- and if we set our compass true, we will reach our destination-not merely victory for our party, but renewal for our nation.

And this November, the torch will be passed again to a new generation of Americans.

And so with Barack Obama -- for you and for me, for our country and for our cause - the work begins anew, the hope rises again, and the dream lives on.