Change

I did not run for this office just to get back to where we were.

That's what change is.

Change is the first bill I signed into law, a pretty simple law.

Real change, big change, is always hard.

That was the change we believed in.

Change is the decision we made to start doing something about our oil addiction, not waiting for Congress.

I promise you change will come.

The challenge we have is we don't want to just get back to where we were.

Change is hard, but we know it's possible.

2008 was just the beginning and we now have to finish what we started in 2008.

We have a lot of work to do, but if you're with me, I guarantee you we're going to make it happen.

There's no straight line to progress, and hardship always accompanies a season of hope.

We've got to light more sparks all across America.

This wasn't the end, this was the beginning.

That's the change we still believe in.

We cannot go back to business as usual.

My hope is this is not going to be a rare situation; we're going to be doing these on a regular basis.

That change begins with each of you in this room.