d the honor to compete with Hillary Rodham Clinton.

There are those who say that this primary has somehow left us weaker and more divided. Well I say that because of this primary， there are millions of Americans who have cast their ballot for the very first time. There are Independents and Republicans who understand that this election isn t just about the party in charge of Washington， it s about the need to change Washington. There are young people， and African？Americans， and Latinos， and women of all ages who have voted in numbers that have broken records and inspired a nation.

All of you chose to support a candidate you believe in deeply. But at the end of the day， we aren t the reason you came out and waited in lines that stretched block after block to make your voice heard. You didn t do that because of me or Senator Clinton or anyone else. You did it because you know in your hearts that at this moment a moment that will define a generation we cannot afford to keep doing what we ve been doing. We owe our children a better future. We owe our country a better future. And for all those who dream of that future tonight， I say let us begin the work together. Let us unite in common effort to chart a new course for America.

In just a few short months， the Republican Party will arrive in St. Paul with a very different agenda. They will come here to nominate John McCain， a man who has served this country heroically. I honor that service， and I respect his many accomplishments， ev