The status quo does not. My congratulations to the Obama campaign and to my good friend John Edwards for his strong showing.
Even Mike Huckabee on the other side of the fight proves the point poignantly - money is not the only measure of a campaign.
Let's say it again another way.
People. Powered. Politics.
You proved the power of people powered politics last cycle in the Congressional elections, and reaffirmed it tonight in Iowa.
There's perhaps no single "under-financed" (to use a mainstream media term) campaign you can point to from last cycle other than ours in North Carolina's 8th that inspired and proved that point so vividly. It took nearly a year of sweat and boot leather, yours and mine, and close to 15,000 small donors just to be outspent 3 to 1 when all was said and done, but the vote margin was a bit closer - just 330 votes shy of victory.
This year, thanks to you, we will win, just as Change did tonight, because no matter how the pundits choose to weigh the odds, you know as well as I, that regular, everyday Americans' thirst for real change can't be measured in a bank account, or by the support of special interests.
Thank you for all you do. Congratulations to Obama, Edwards and you for the victory in Iowa tonight. Believe in yourself and the power of people.
Together, we can change the world.