On Monday night and Tuesday I went through a range of emotions that varied from sadness to despair to anger to fear. It wasn't supposed to turn out this way. We were going to have two stirring victories and sail on to the nomination. Monday and Tuesday taught me that was more fantasy than reality.
After a lot of soul-searching what has emerged from that dark day is a resolve I have never yet felt in my life. I am more sure than ever that what we are doing is going to change the direction of this nation and we must carry on with our work. If you got into this because you wanted to jump on a bandwagon and score an easy win, you were doing it for the wrong reasons. As Mike Ford told us, power is never handed over willingly, it must be taken. This fight was never about a campaign or a candidate, it is about the future, maybe even the survival, of our nation. I am more determined than ever to fight on.
Because there are over 40 million Americans who go without health insurance, I am going to fight on.
Because every day, we tack on $1.5 billion to our nation's debt, I am going to fight on.
Because our Democratic leadership in the Congress has failed to stand up to George W. Bush on energy, on education and on tax cuts, I am going to fight on.
Because we need a President financed by hundreds of thousands of small donors instead of a handful of rich people, I am going to fight on.
Because we still spend too much on prisons and not enough on early childhood, I am going to fight on.
Because today, the Ohio legislature banned not only gay marriage, but domestic partner benefits, I am going to fight on.
Because Howard Dean is the only candidate with the message, the experience and the vision to inspire a nation starving for strong, unapologetic leadership, I am defintely going fight on.
I made the decision today to fly to New Hampshire to join the forces gathering there to help Howard Dean and the rest of the Dean nation storm back from our speed bump in Iowa. I have made the decision to fight on and help set up our victory in California. Come with me if you can, but in any case keep the fight up until I get home.
Everyone I have encountered in the Dean campaign have been among the most dedicated, intelligent and talented people I have ever worked with in politics. You have become my family and we're going to stick together and win this for each other, for Governor Dean and for America.
Peace and onward to victory!