Transcript: Kerry Concession Speech

I pledge to do my part to try to bridge the partisan divide. 

I know this is a difficult time for my supporters, but I ask them, all of you, to join me in doing that. Now, more than ever, with our soldiers in harm's way, we must stand together and succeed in Iraq and win the war on terror. 

KERRY: I will also do everything in my power to ensure that my party, a proud Democratic Party, stands true to our best hopes and ideals. 

I believe that what we started in this campaign will not end here. 

(APPLAUSE)

Our fight goes on to put America back to work and to make our economy a great engine of job growth. 

Our fight goes on to make affordable health care an accessible right for all Americans, not privilege. 

Our fight goes on to protect the environment, to achieve equality, to push the frontiers of science and discovery and to restore America's reputation in the world. 

I believe that all of this will happen, and sooner than we may think, because we're America, and America always moves forward.

(APPLAUSE)

I've been honored to represent the citizens of this commonwealth in the United States Senate now for 20 years. And I pledge to them that in the years ahead, I'm going to fight on for the people and for the principles that I've learned and lived with here in Massachusetts.

I'm proud of what we stood for in this campaign and of what we accomplished. 

When we began, no one thought it was possible to even make this a close race.

KERRY: But we stood for real change, change that would make a real difference in the life of our nation and the lives of our families. And we defined that choice to America.

I'll never forget the wonderful people who came to our rallies, who stood in our rope lines, who put their hopes in our hands, who invested in each and every one of us. I saw in them the truth that America is not only great, but it is good.

(APPLAUSE)

So with a grateful heart, I leave this campaign with a prayer that has even greater meaning to me now that I've come to know our vast country so much better thanks to all of you and what a privilege it has been to do so.

And that prayer is very simple: God bless America. 

Thank you.