President-Elect Barack Obama in Chicago

Hello Chicago If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time who still questions the power of our democracy: Tonight is your answer! It´s the answer told by lines that stretch around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen. By people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives. Because they believed that this time must be different. That their voices could be that difference. If the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, democrat AND republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled, and not disabled, Americans who send the message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individual or a collection of red States and blue States we are and always will be the United States of America. It´s the answer to that let-goes who´ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we could achieve to put their hands on the arch of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It´s been a long time coming, but tonight because of what we did on this day in this election at this defining moment change has come to America. A little bit earlier this evening I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Sir John McCain. Sir John McCain fought long and hard in this campaign and he´s fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to amend. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him, I congratulate governor Palin for all that they´ve achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation´s promise in the months ahead. I want to thank my partner of this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton and all the way on the train home to Delaware: the Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden. And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last sixteen years the rock of our family the love of my life the nation´s next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine and you have earned the new Papi that´s coming with you to the White House. And well, she´s no longer with us, I know my grandmother´s watching along with the family that may be who I am I miss them tonight I know that my debt to them is to be unmeasured. To my sister Maya, my sister Auma, all my other brothers and sisters thank you so much for all the support that you´ve given me. I´m greatful to them. To my campaign manager, David Plouffe. The unsung hero of this campaign, who built the best the best political campaign I think in the history of the United States of America. To my chief strategist, David Axelrod, who´s been a partner with me at every step of the way. To the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics, you made this happen, and I´m forever grateful for what you´ve sacrificed to get it done! Above all, I will never forget who this victory truely belongs to... It belongs to you. It belongs to you. I was never a delighted candidate for this office. We didn´t start with much money and many endorsements.