merica that most of us cannot begin to imagine， and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Governor Palin for all they have 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 in 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 rode with on that train home to Delaware， the Vice President？elect of the United States， Joe Biden.

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 and the love of my life， our nation s next First Lady， Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia， I love you both so much， and you have earned the new puppy that s coming with us to the White House. And while she s no longer with us， I know my grandmother is watching， along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight， and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

To my campaign manager David Plouffe， my chief strategist David Axelrod， and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics you made this happen， and I am forever grateful for what you ve sacrificed to get it done.

But above all， I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to it belongs to you.

I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn t start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign w