Thank you!

... I also want to take a moment to introduce my family, because they don't always get a chance to come out on the campaign trail with me.

A lot of you know my wife, Lisa, who I love...I sure wouldn't be here without her. And I want to introduce two of our daughters, Eliza and Gillian. Our oldest daughter, Madison, is a high school senior who has final exams this week.

I'm blessed with a great family. I can tell you - having three teen-age daughters definitely keeps me grounded!

I look around this room -- and I see my family, and so many friends -- and I realize again that I'm a pretty lucky guy.

In a country where everybody ought to have a fair shot, I've had more than my share.

As the first in my family to graduate from college, I had parents who taught me the value of hard work and instilled in me the belief that, in America, anything is possible.

Many of you know that I've had success in business -- I'll spare you my cell phone jokes - but many of you may not know that my first two businesses failed.

And business wasn't the only area where I didn't succeed the first time I tried...

Some of you might remember my first try at politics - I ran against Senator John Warner. I like to say that was my "silver medal" race.

And I think all of us will agree that Virginia has been well-served with the bipartisan leadership of Senator Warner.  I thank him for his many years of service.  I am proud to call him a friend and a partner.

Sometimes it's funny how things work out...

Seven years ago I asked you -- the people of our Commonwealth -- to give me a chance to serve as your Governor.  I was a job applicant, asking you to hire me.  

I started then where I do today - in Southwest Virginia - a vital part of our Commonwealth that too often doesn't get a fair shake from Richmond.

My promise to you then was the same as it is today: if you give me the chance, I will work with anyone to ensure that every Virginian gets a fair shot.

That means setting aside petty partisanship and focusing on real results.

It means always putting our country and our Commonwealth first.

In 2001, you hired me and gave me that chance --  and I'm proud of what we accomplished together.

But, there's more we can do.

So today, with humility and determination, I declare my candidacy to be your next United States Senator - and, I ask Virginians to hire me again - so we can break Washington's partisan gridlock and finally get things done.

If there is ever a time to bring fresh thinking and Virginia-style results to Washington, it is now.

The contrast between Washington and Virginia could not be more clear.

While Washington stood by as our economy changed and jobs went overseas, here in Virginia we brought new hope to hard-hit communities.

We showed that young people in rural Virginia do not have to leave home to find quality jobs.

Here in Southwest, we brought hundreds of information technology jobs to Russell County - jobs that any community in the world would love to have.

And in Southside Virginia, we deployed the largest rural Internet broadband project in the country to a region built on textiles and tobacco.

We received national recognition for our efforts when Forbes magazine ranked Virginia the best state in the nation for business.

While Washington saddled us with a program like "No Child Left Behind" - a program that created bureaucracy instead of results -- here in Virginia we made record investments in public education.

And we saw the nation's biggest increase in math SAT scores, and partnered with NASCAR for "Race to GED" to give adults the skills they need to compete.

And, again we received national recognition.

This time, from Education Week - which proclaimed that a child born in Virginia had more lifetime educational opportunities than a child born in any other state in the nation.

While Washington spent more than 16 years talking about what's wrong with our health care system, here in Virginia we got results.

We created the Virginia Health Care Foundation - which has helped a half-million uninsured Virginians get health care.

We took a broken health insurance program for children and turned it around.

Again, the nation took notice. The Kaiser Family Foundation recognized Virginia's national leadership in extending health care coverage to almost 140,000 additional children in Virginia.

Nowhere is the contrast between Washington's politics and Virginia's focus on results more clear than in the way we managed our finances.  

While Washington writes IOUs for exploding deficits, growing trade imbalances, and the declining dollar -- IOUs that our children and grandchildren must pay -- here in Virginia, we got results.

When faced with the most serious fiscal challenge in decades, we paid our debts, kept our commitments, and did not simply pass-on the problem to the next generation.

We acted in Virginia's proud tradition of fiscal conservatism.

Remember when I was first elected in 2001? Everyone, Republicans and Democrats alike, discovered a budget shortfall that was four-times bigger than my predecessor said it was. It eventually grew into a six-BILLION-dollar deficit.

We responded the same way any family or business would: we cut spending first.

We also introduced a series of business-like reforms to save taxpayer money.

In our third year, we traveled the Commonwealth, holding an honest discussion with Virginians about what they expected from state government.  In the end, Republicans and Democrats came together and we fixed the budget mess.

We brought more fairness to our tax system.

We saved our Triple-A bond rating.

We made historic investments in education and environmental protection, and replenished the Rainy Day Fund.

And once again, we got national recognition: our honest approach to budget and fiscal matters helped get us named the best managed state in America.

Results matter. And Virginia has earned national recognition - and respect - for what we have accomplished together.

Washington needs that same approach.

We all know our country is at a crossroads.

I know times are tough for many Virginians: record gas prices, home foreclosures, rising food costs...

And at the same time, our nation is at war. From the Pentagon in Northern Virginia to the Navy bases in Hampton Roads to our small town National Guard units - we know that the cost of war is real.

With the threat of terrorism, we must keep our military strong, re-engage diplomatically with the rest of the world, and recommit to provide world-class health care to our wounded troops and other military veterans.

They stood for us on the battlefield - and we must stand with them when they come home.

Abroad, we have the challenge of Iraq...

The Iraqi government is sitting on 70-BILLION-dollars in oil revenue- while American taxpayers bear most of the cost to rebuild Iraq.

America must pressure the Iraqis to do more by beginning to bring our troops home in a safe and responsible way. We cannot set a timeline -- or leave Iraq a haven for terrorists - but an open-ended commitment does not move us closer to a resolution.

And, with $3.61 a gallon gasoline-(well, that's what it was when I started this speech!) -- we are sending almost 500-BILLION-dollars a year overseas to buy foreign oil.

Much of the oil comes from countries that don't like us. Quite possibly, we are funding both sides of the war - since I believe some of those dollars end up in the hands of the very terrorists who attack our troops.

We must break our addiction to foreign oil.

We have an opportunity to lead again.

We can create clean energy jobs right here in America and here in Virginia.  Ending our reliance on foreign oil will strengthen our nation's security. And if we do it right, we can tackle the challenge of climate change - and restore America's moral standing in the world.                                  

And here at home, we can do better.

We know that Virginians worry more each day about their family finances. Costs are going up, and the competition is getting tougher.

We need to develop a national plan to compete and win in this global economy -- because India and China are not playing for second place:  

That means we need a world-class, highly-educated work force.

That means America must lead the world in innovation and intellectual capital.

That means fixing health care so American companies don't pay THREE-THOUSAND-DOLLARS more per employee in health costs than our competitors.

That means developing a true 21st century plan to invest in our neglected infrastructure - roads, bridges, rail, and Internet broadband.  

From energy, to America's competitive position, to our national security and economy, we all know we have challenges.

But this is America -the greatest country in the world.  We can successfully meet these challenges if we work together.

In January 2009, a new President will arrive in Washington. A new Congress will convene.

A new direction will be set.

If you hire me as your U.S. Senator, we will prove that - even in Washington - Virginia independence can produce real and measurable results.

I'm proud to be a Democrat, but the American people don't trust either party enough to give them a blank check.  The American people want both parties to work together.

And as someone who spent a career in business, I know good ideas don't always come with a "D" or an "R" attached.

So I will help build a coalition of 10-to-12 bipartisan senators - what I like to call "the Radical Centrists" - because finding common ground is the only way we can get the fundamental change required to meet these challenges.

We can do better.

I believe Americans stand ready to do their part - but they must be called upon to act.

We need leaders who will trust enough in the character of the American people to be honest about the challenges we face - and ask everyone to be part of the solution.

It is time for a new approach in Washington:

Results -- not rhetoric.

Progress -- not delay.

The old politics of "left" and "right" -- or "red" and "blue" - will not work in an environment where the challenge is not "Democrat" and "Republican."

It's "future-versus-past."  I am not afraid of that future because, if we get it right, our best days lie ahead.

Let those who follow us say we measured success not by the political battles we won -- but by the real progress we made for Virginians and for all Americans!

Thank you!

For my friends Warren, Brian, Tom and me, there was also the added dimension of getting to know Mark Warner and his family members and campaign staff workers even better by completing various behind-the-scenes tasks for the campaign and interacting with the news media who are traveling with them.  In order to give them rides to their hotels and back to the firehouse early this morning, we met them at Landmark Aviation Sunday night with three passenger vans and helped move people and luggage wherever and whenever necessary.

As a native Roanoker who has lived here most of my life, I was immediately impressed with Mark Warner's detailed knowledge of the Roanoke Valley and its places and people.  While Mark easily gave me directions to various possible restaurants for a late-night dinner for him and his family, Mrs. Warner gently reminded him that I live here in Roanoke, but I laughed and explained to her that I really appreciated the additional help since Mark knew the local restaurant locations better than me!

With much obvious interest, knowledge and insight, Mark also discussed local politics with me, he knew many of the individuals involved here in city, county and state government, and he is very much up to date on current issues and concerns.  Later, when I told some of his staff members about Mark's familiarity with local government and politics, they assured me that he is similarly in tune with people throughout Virginia's various communities, and I now have no doubt about that.

So, while most others were enjoying the camaraderie and speeches at Mark Warner's U. S. Senate campaign announcement inside Firehouse #1 yesterday morning (and possibly wondering why I wasn't out front with the others), Warren, Brian, Tom and I were in the back, working with his staff members to help move vehicles and luggage and, eventually, people from one place to another, and I think we had just as much fun as any others who were there!  We all were particularly proud of getting everyone and their luggage back out to the airport and seeing their flight to Norfolk take off right on time.

In addition, my wife and I provided room and board from Friday evening through Monday morning in our home for Mark Giangreco, one of the Warner campaign's staff members, and he is a most capable, talented and dedicated young man.  

As expected, Mark Warner has surrounded himself with competent, creative, dependable, energetic and resourceful people, and I look forward to working with all of them - especially behind the scenes - over the next five months in order to help make sure that Virginia has two Democratic U. S. Senators by the first of next year.

See you on the campaign trail...

Thanks!

Steve  
 

MARK WARNER FORMALLY LAUNCHES U.S. SENATE BID

~ Former Governor visits 11 localities in 3 days on statewide announcement tour ~

Pledging to "take Virginia-style independence and real results to Washington," former Virginia Governor Mark R. Warner today formally launched his candidacy for the U.S. Senate in a statewide series of events scheduled in 11 localities over three days.

Warner, 53, served as Virginia's 69th Governor between 2002-2006. When he took office, Virginia was in the midst of a fiscal crisis and faced a $3.8 billion revenue shortfall that ultimately grew into a $6 billion deficit. By the end of his term, Warner had cut state agency budgets, improved delivery of state services, worked with a Republican-led legislature to reform Virginia's outdated tax system, and turned that deficit into a surplus.

"It is time for a new approach in Washington: results, not rhetoric - and progress, not delay," former Governor Warner said. "The old politics of 'left and right' or 'red-versus-blue' will not work at a time when our challenge really is 'future-versus-past.' If we work together to get our nation fixed, I am confident our best days lie ahead."

Kick-off events were scheduled in Abingdon, Roanoke, Norfolk, Richmond, Alexandria, Martinsville, Lynchburg, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Hampton, and on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

Events featured a strong line-up of local elected officials, state legislators, congressmen, U.S. Senator Jim Webb and Governor Timothy M. Kaine. Other speakers include:

*  Roanoke School Board Chairman David Carson, a self-described "lifelong Republican" who says Mark Warner "is the only Democrat I've ever voted for;"

*  Heywood Fralin, a Roanoke Valley business and community leader and long-time supporter of Republican candidates and committees;

*  Eric Penn of Martinsville, an associate minister, employee of a child support collection firm that Governor Warner helped attract to Martinsville, and a part-time student at the New College Institute, whose creation Governor Warner supported as Southside Virginia was reeling from dramatic changes and job losses in its traditional textile and furniture industries;

* Julia Melendez of Norfolk, a single mom who received health care coverage for her three daughters through Virginia's FAMIS program - the state/federal partnership that Warner championed and promoted as Governor. The Warner Administration's successful efforts ultimately boosted FAMIS enrollment from 7% to 98% of Virginia's eligible children, leading the Kaiser Family Foundation to cite Virginia as one of the states with the nation's most dramatic improvements in children's health insurance;

* Retired U.S. Navy Admiral Harry Train, the former Commander-in-Chief of the United States Atlantic Fleet and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander of the Atlantic, and retired Vice Admiral Al Krekich, the former Commander of Naval Surface Forces, U.S. Pacific Fleet in San Diego. Governor Warner consistently supported our active-duty, Reserve and National Guard men and women and their families, streamlined and improved delivery of services to Virginia's 700,000 veterans, and worked with local and regional officials to protect Virginia's strong partnership with our nation's military during the 2005 round of BRAC military base-closings;

*  Jessica Holbrook, a lifelong Southwest Virginia resident who worked in regional economic development efforts before accepting a job at CGI-AMS, one of the leading information technology companies Governor Warner helped locate in the Russell County town of Lebanon in an effort to transform the region's economy through high-skill, high-wage IT job opportunities;

*  Governor Warner's announcement tour also featured supportive appearances by several former Republican members of the Virginia House of Delegates, including Jim Dillard of Fairfax, Preston Bryant of Lynchburg and Robert Bloxom of Accomac.

Warner was joined on part of the announcement tour by his wife, Lisa Collis, and their three daughters: Madison (18), Gillian (17) and Eliza (13).

In 2005, TIME Magazine named Mark Warner one of "America's Five Best Governors," Governing Magazine said Virginia was the "best managed state in the nation," Forbes.com designated Virginia as the "best state for business," and in 2006, Education Week determined that a child born in Virginia had the nation's best prospects for lifetime success because of the strength of the Commonwealth's educational system.

*Roanoke School Board Chairman David Carson, a self-described "lifelong Republican" who says Mark Warner "is the only Democrat I've ever voted for;"

*Heywood Fralin, a Roanoke Valley business and community leader and long-time supporter of Republican candidates and committees;