After hearing from former President Clinton and Senator Biden last night, and in looking forward to tonight's speech... I am reminded of and humbled by the simple saying that "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Yesterday was the day when the forces of history collided at this one convention -- coinciding with the two respective anniversaries of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech and women securing the right to vote -- through three trailblazing leaders in Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama. I felt tremendous pride when I cast my vote to nominate Senator Obama to be the Democratic nominee for President.

Tonight, we will see the culmination of this convention and another chapter in this fight as Senator Obama accepts our Party's nomination. We will be reminded why this fight has been, and continues to be, worth the sacrifice. The history of our party and our country has always been defined by ordinary people taking control of their lives, getting off the sidelines fighting for economic and social justice.

Change is never easy...and we have our work cut out for us. But the story of progress in this country has never come without sacrifice, and America's greatness has not come without struggle. I am more confident than ever that the American people are ready for change – and ready to elect Barack Obama the next President of the United States of America. Tonight will be the night when we bear witness to history being made, knowing that tomorrow we begin with renewed spirit our pursuit of that basic American ideal to create a more perfect union.