In case you missed it, I thought you might want to read some excerpts from the speech I gave announcing my candidacy.

“Today, our nation faces serious challenges.

Homeowners are worried about whether the mortgage crisis will affect them next.

The cost of health care and gasoline is making it harder for people to pay their bills.

And in Iraq, our brave men and women are entangled in a war that is now in its sixth year with no end in sight.

Through all this, we have a President and an Administration that have failed hard working families on every front.

Our economy is not stronger.

The world is not safer.

And New Jersey’s working families are more worried about their future and their children’s future than ever before.

We need to change course from the failed policies of the Bush Administration… and that’s why New Jersey needs a United States Senator who will fight every day for the change in direction that we need.

I am running for reelection to the Senate to bring that change.

I will build on my achievements of the last few years… to stand strong against those who attack our values and shortchange our state… and to deliver results that improve people’s lives.

The people of New Jersey know a few things about me:

• I have the know-how to get things done
• I only serve the people of this state,
• And that I get results that make a real difference in people’s lives.

Just recently, I took on tough fights and got results that move our country and our state back in the right direction.

When the Bush Administration was giving out port security funding based on politics, not risk – I wrote a law that changed that. Now port security grants must go out based on risk and threat, so New Jersey can get its fair share.

And when the Washington Republicans tried to take health insurance away from thousands of New Jersey children – I led the fight against it. We beat the odds, and we defeated that effort.
When we saw our troops being put onto the battlefield without proper body armor, and families paying out of their own pocket to buy body armor for their loved ones, I took action by writing a law that forces the Bush Administration to reimburse those families.

Here in New Jersey, we live in the midst of many chemical facilities, some of them very dangerous and at risk for terrorism. So when George Bush issued a Federal regulation that would nullify our state’s tough chemical security law, I blocked him.

Even after the current President is gone from office, we know the special interests in Washington are going to continue to try to do real damage.

They are going to continue to let polluters write bills to try to undo our environmental laws.

They are going to work with their friends in Big Oil to try to drill off New Jersey’s coast.

We know the Bush Republicans are going to work overtime in their quest to take away a woman’s right to choose.

I will be there to stop them – But only with your help.

I have a vision for a better, brighter future.

Join me, so we can change the course in Iraq and start bringing our troops home.

Join me, so we can finally make health care affordable and accessible to all Americans.

Join me, so we can expand stem cell research and find life-saving cures.

Join me, so we can deny guns to dangerous criminals.

Join me, so we can protect our air and water, and take real steps to stop global warming.

And join me, to put our economy back to work.

With your support, I will continue to stand strong for New Jersey, to make a real difference in the lives of everyday people, and to restore America’s leadership in the world.

Thank you.”