Excerpts of Del. Brian Moran’s speech to Virginia Democrats at the State Convention in Hampton Roads June 14, 2008. Moran, of Alexandria, is a candidate for governor:

Hello Virginia Democrats! 

Its great to be back in Hampton with so many good friends.  

Thank you to our Party Chair Dick Cranwell and his Executive Director Levar Stoney for all their hard work. 

And let me give special thanks to our host today Congressman Bobby Scott.  Bobby, thank you for your progressive leadership — and your friendship. 

And to each delegate here in this room today, congratulations and thank you. You have chosen to act in service to your nation and in pursuit of a new direction.

You are the backbone of our party and because of you, come November, we will change the direction of this country.

As the son of a football coach and teacher, I was raised to believe that you cant leave the big challenges to someone else.

You cant sit on the sidelines of history. We have a responsibility to get in the game and make a difference.

And thats what each of you have chosen to do.

Youre the union member who works a full week and comes home tired, but returns to the union hall to volunteer.

Youre the college student drowning in debt and working two jobs, who still finds the time to knock doors on a Saturday afternoon.

Youre the Democratic committee member who, year after year, organizes your community and works for a better future for us all.

Youre the veteran who has given in service to this nation but now gives even more because you care so deeply about the country you fought to protect.

Youre the single mother who scrapes together to make a small donation because you believe in your childrens futures.

Youre the activist who starts a blog and builds grassroots support because you believe every cause deserves a voice.

Youre the supporter of Hillary Clinton, one of 18 million cracks in the glass ceiling, who ensured that my daughter and so many daughters will grow up believing a woman can be president.

Youre the supporter of Barack Obama who believes, decades since Dr. King reminded us of the fierce urgency of now, that now is the time to make his dream real, the dream of judgment based on the content of ones character.

I know that we can do it we can win in Virginia.  Because, for the last seven years, Ive traveled all across this Commonwealth, leading the House Democratic Caucus.  And we have won.

We won with Jim Webb. We won with Tim Kaine.  Were in striking distance of the majority in the House of Delegates, and we turned the state Senate blue.

Youve proven we can do this.

Together we will do for our nation what weve done for Virginia.

we can change our country  

we can write a new chapter

Yes… we can. 

We are not standing alone. Because of your work, there are one million Virginians standing with you. One million who voted in the Democratic primary this year.  

A million Virginians who stood up and spoke out against the broken politics of Washington.  

A million Virginians standing firm and standing tall against a third term for George Bush.  

Thats a million people from all walks of life —  young and old, rich and poor, Black, White, Latino and Asian, gay and straight all working to build a better future for their Commonwealth and their country. 

But history doesnt change itself. You must make history.  

The cynics say that real change isnt possible. They say you cant change Washington. But you and I know better. You know what weve done here, and you know why it matters. 

This election matters because of the auto workers in Norfolk whose jobs are shipping overseas. 

It matters because a familys dream of home ownership has become a nightmare of foreclosure.  

It matters because one million Virginians will go to bed tonight without health insurance.  

It matters because we are all struggling with the rising price of gas and groceries. 

It matters because the veterans who have served this nation deserve a President who will sign Jim Webbs GI Bill. 

This is greater than just a campaign. From the bottom up, this is a movement of committed people changing the course of our country. 

Its a movement not about politicians, but about people each of you. People who believe in hope again. 

I am so proud to be one of you. 

Together, were going to end the Republican policies of the past. 

Well put an end to the Bush administrations indifference to ordinary Americans.

We can end a war that costs thousands of lives and billions of dollars, when all we get is stay the course and mission accomplished. 

Well end policies that ignore science and the threat of global warming.  

We will strengthen the economy, tackle global warming and end this war.  

This is our time. This is our moment. We will send Mark Warner to the Senate and Barack Obama to the White House. 

Each of you, and millions like you across Virginia, will make history. 

It was four decades ago, when Robert Kennedy said each time a man stands up for an idea, or acts to improve the lot of others, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression. 

You are Virginias ripples of hope crisscrossing from each corner of the Commonwealth, building a current that will sweep George Bush out and carry Barack Obama in to the White House! 

Thank you for everything you have done and everything you will do for our party, our Commonwealth and our country. 

Im honored to be with you.   

God Bless you, God Bless the Commonwealth of Virginia, and God Bless the United States of America.