We reserve our deepest respect and admiration for those who volunteer for service and give their lives to help keep our nation secure.

I will spend the next four years rebuilding the foundation of a opportunity society led by free people and free enterprises.

Some of the companies we helped start are names you know. An office supply company called Staples - where I'm pleased to see the Obama campaign has been shopping The Sports Authority, which became a favorite of my sons. We started an early childhood learning center called Bright Horizons that First Lady Michelle Obama rightly praised.

Ronald Reagan was a president of strength. His philosophy was a philosophy of strength - a strong military, a strong economy and strong families.

The strength and power and goodness of America has always been based on the strength and power and goodness of our communities, our families, our faiths. That is the bedrock of what makes America, America. In our best days, we can feel the vibrancy of America's communities, large and small.

Our worldly successes cannot be guaranteed, but our ability to achieve spiritual success is entirely up to us, thanks to the grace of God. The best advice I know is to give is to give those worldly things your best but never your all - reserve the ultimate hope for the only one who can grant it.

I stand ready to lead us down a different path where we're lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success.

If we become one of those societies that attack success, why not come as certain there will be a lot less success? And that's not who we are.

That business we started with 10 people has now grown into a great American success story.

I feel very deeply about the need to respect and tolerate people of different social - or sexual orientation. But at the same time, I believe marriage should be preserved as an institution for one man and one woman.