A New Era for American Leadership

11/07/2008

The eyes of the world were on the Green Mountain State on Tuesday.

Just seconds after the polls closed, news networks announced that Vermont had become the first state in the nation to go for Barack Obama, giving him his first electoral votes of the night. And so began a marathon of wins across the nation that led to the doorstep of our nation's highest office -- and a place in the history books.

I couldn't be prouder to be a Vermonter and an American than I was on Tuesday night.  The election of Barack Obama to the Presidency is a truly historic milestone, one that marks a huge leap toward the "more perfect union" envisioned by our Founders.

When I endorsed Barack Obama for President back in January, I was troubled by America's deteriorating assets at home and stature in the world and was convinced that Barack could "re-introduce" America to the world. So it has been heartening to see world leaders join ordinary citizens from around the globe to praise this moment of American democracy, sharing our optimism that Barack Obama's election marks the dawn of a new era of American leadership.

We need President-elect Barack Obama's leadership here at home as well.  It's time to bridge the divides in Washington and finally get our nation back on track. I am eager to work with Barack and the new Congress -- with expanded Democratic majorities! -- to fix our broken economy, provide health care to all, restore our civil liberties, and bring our troops home from Iraq.

You and the entire Green Mountain PAC community were an important part of Tuesday night's victory.   Thanks in great part to more than $50,000 in contributions from our online community, we will welcome at least six new Democrats to the Senate this January:  Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Kay Hagan (NC), Mark Udall (CO), Tom Udall (NM), Mark Warner (VA), and Jeff Merkley (OR). And I'm holding out hope for wins in Minnesota, Alaska, and Georgia as well, where recounts and a runoff election will determine the ultimate outcomes.

Tuesday's victories were monumental, but they were just the beginning.  As President-elect Obama noted in his victory speech, "The road ahead will be long [and] our climb will be steep."  So I hope you will continue to stand with me in the months and years ahead, answering Barack's call to "join in the work of remaking this nation, the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand."

Thank you for everything.

Sincerely,
 
Patrick Leahy
U.S. Senator