2008 Presidential Campaign Blog

Paul Tsongas 1992 Announcement

Paul E. Tsongas Announcement Speech in Lowell, Massachusetts on April 30, 1991

Two hundred years ago, our Founding Fathers gave us a democracy. It was based upon the simple, yet noble, idea that government derives its validity from the consent of the governed. That consent must be constantly renewed. And it can only be renewed by a full and vigorous debate on the issues that confront our nation.

Today that search for renewal begins. Today that search for consent proceeds as the Constitution has provided. Today the national debate will commence.

You are Americans. You love this country. Together we are entrusted with the principles that represent mankind's greatest political and social achievement.

America is hope. It is compassion. It is excellence. It is valor.

We must return to the glory of our forebearers by unleashing the greatness of our people. We need leadership that calls upon the best of what we are. We need leadership that embraces a higher vision.

Today that leadership is not in Washington. That leadership is here and across America. It is in the hearts and minds and souls of the American people. I want to deploy the leadership to meet the challenges that face us and to restore America's greatness.

That is why I declare today my candidacy for the President of the United States."

Full Speech Text

Democracy for America names R.T. Rybak an "A-List" Candidate

Democracy for America, the nationwide grassroots political organization that grew out of Howard Dean's campaign for President, has endorsed Mayor R.T. Rybak. The Democracy for America endorsement followed Rybak's endorsement by Democracy for Minnesota, whose members voted overwhelmingly for Rybak after screening both candidates.

"Mayor R.T. Rybak has demonstrated that you can lead an American city with innovation, progressive values and strong fiscal management. He has vision, energy and is a rising star of the Democratic Party," commented Dean on April 17th after hearing of the local chapter's endorsement.

Mayor Rybak was the first big city Mayor in the country to endorse Gov. Dean. "Gov. Dean and I both demonstrated that you can lead a government with progressive values and strong management." the Mayor said. "I also share his respect for grassroots democracy and am proud my campaigns have brought many new people into the Democratic Party." Gov. Dean and Mayor Rybak appeared together at a Dean Rally in Minneapolis on February 12, 2004.

Hubert H. Humphrey 1968 Announcement

Hubert H. Humphrey Declaration of Candidacy for the Presidential Nomination given in Washington, D.C. on April 27, 1968.

"My fellow Americans, we're here today on important business, freedom's business, American's business, the Democratic Party's business, and in that order. These priorities of freedom, country, and party have guided me as I have sought to reach an important personal decision. Any man who has had the privilege of spending almost twenty years near the President and the Presidency as I have, must weigh very carefully the implications of seeking an office that demands perhaps more judgment, wisdom, and maturity than any single man possesses. Yet any man who has spent a lifetime, at least who has spent his adult life in public service, also knows within himself that he must be willing to give of himself, when and where he feels he can best serve what he believes in. And so my friends and fellow Americans, facing and knowing the hard realities of the office, yet also knowing the potential for good which lies within it, I shall seek the nomination of the Democratic Party.

(We want Humphrey...) Like it or not, you have him. Yes, as I said, I shall seek the nomination of the Democratic Party for the Presidency of the United States. My credentials, well, they may be stated rather simply: of a loving family; teacher; mayor of my city; senator from my state; vice-president of my country; grateful husband; proud father; believer in the American Dream-the concept of human brotherhood."

And I shall make everything that I do on one conviction: that this country, we the people of these United States, working in a spirit of unity,  can overcome any obstacle, finally realizing the fullness of freedom, the prize of peace, in the happiness of human opportunity, both here and in the world.  My fellow Americans, we are the people of today; we are the people of tomorrow, it is to the future that we look and we aspire. And I found some words are told me exactly what I want to tell you; you’ll find them inscribed in the great literature. The future has several names: for the weak it is impossible, for the faint-hearted it is the unknown, for the thoughtful and the valiant it is ideals. The challenge is urgent, the test is large, the time is now -- on to victory!

Full Speech Text

Lugar Rolls Out Reelection Web Site

Spring Mill State Park -- U.S. Sen. Dick Lugar rolled out his Senate reelection effort while speaking in Lawrence County on Friday, April 22, 2005. In the remarks to the County Lincoln Day Dinner crowd, Lugar said, "I want to tell my friends in Lawrence County I will be a candidate for the Republican nomination," in 2006

Prior to the announcement at Spring Mill State Park, Lugar had already set up a campaign headquarters at the Indiana Republican Party offices in Indianapolis, and had hired a campaign manager and political director to compliment his existing staff.

Lugar ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 1996 on a platform of prosperity, national security and integrity. His 2006 Senate Campaign Website can be reached at both lugarcamp.com and lugar2006.com.

Evan Bayh All America PAC Web Site

Evan Bayh launched the new All America PAC with this welcome message:

"We intend for this site to be a useful source of information regarding the issues and candidates that the All America PAC supports. But frankly, our goals for the site go much further. We hope that this site earns a spot at what has essentially become our nation’s kitchen table: our burgeoning online community.
The level of dialogue going on each and every day thanks to the advent of the Internet and blogs is the single best development in modern democracy. There is no excuse for any politician ever being out of touch with the views of the people again. Knowing that I can hop online and hear what my constituents think has been a breath of fresh air for me. And believe me, most of the best ideas being discussed in our civic discourse today are originating outside the Washington Beltway.

So I hope you will join the All America Community and post your thoughts on our new blog. I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say. And we will do our best to keep you updated with news updates, special features, candidate profiles and information on grassroots issues campaigns that All America PAC will be supporting.

Thank you for joining our All America online community"

John Glenn 1984 Announcement

Remarks of Senator John Glenn at his Declaration of Candidacy for the Office of President of the United States on Thursday, April 21, 1983 in New Concord, Ohio.

"Today, as I stand at the threshold of an even greater journey, my feelings are the same. I seek your support and God's guidance as once more I ask to serve my country.

With confidence that my life has prepared me for this challenge,

With dedication to the promise of opportunity and the pursuit of peace,

And with a firm belief that guided by the light of old values we can again reach new horizons,

I declare my candidacy for President of the United States."

Full Speech Text

Gary Bauer 2000 Announcement

Gary Bauer officially threw his hat into the ring for the 2000 Republican presidential nomination on April 21, 1999.

"I am proud to stand here today, in Newport, Kentucky, to ask for your strength and support, as I announce my candidacy for the Republican nomination to be President of the United States.

I will not hedge on any issue. I will not be guided by polls that show what would be best for me. I will be guided by the principle of what is best for America.

And I will run to win. I will compete in every state. And I will reach out to every citizen. Starting here. Starting now.

Thank you very much. God bless you and God bless America."

Full Speech Text

Dick Lugar 1996 Announcement

Senator Richard Lugar's Presidential Announcement Speech on April 19, 1995.

"Today, surrounded by so many achievements of great Hoosiers who shared our vision and built to fulfill those dreams, I come to you with a new vision for our country.

I come to declare that I am a candidate for President of the United States.

As President of the United States, I will establish a new foundation for American optimism and strength. Together, we will exercise and enjoy the American Advantage. That advantage is our unique ability to build a new economic future for ourselves and our families; to assert strong and creative American leadership in the world; and to reinvigorate our traditional values of religious faith, of family, honesty, and integrity.

This will be a long campaign. This will be a successful campaign. I have always been a long distance runner. This time, I plan to run for America.

And I plan to win for all Americans."

Full Speech Text

Presidential Primaries 2008: Senator Smith for President in '08?

Link: Presidential Primaries 2008: Senator Smith for President in '08?.

Senator Smith for President in '08?

The Presidential Primaries 2008 Blog makes good use of the Presidential Campaign Speech Texts found on our 4President.org web site.

Dan Quayle 2000 Announcement

Dan Quayle remarks announcing his candidacy on April 14, 2000 in Huntington, Indiana.

"Today I announce that I will seek and I will win the presidency of the United States of America.

This campaign is for you. You’ve heard so many candidates come and say, “Believe in the candidates.” I’m here to say I believe in you. I believe in your dreams, in your hopes, and in your future.

The battle for our families and our future begins today. Working together we will prevail. We will make America a better place to live.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless America."

Full Speech Text