Thank you. It’s an honor to share my thoughts with you this evening at this historic convention. Barack Obama has been my friend, my mentor, my inspiration. Now, he’s going to be the next President of the United States of America. Because his story is our story. Your story. My story. It’s the American story.

My parents came to this country as Greek immigrants with nothing. They came because they believed in the promise of a better life for their family. They believed in the promise of America. I stand here today, at the age of 32, as the fulfillment of that American promise. But whether your story begins in a small Greek village, or the plains of Kansas, or on the streets of Chicago, we’re Americans because we all share the promise of that story.

After eight years watching the betrayal of that promise, it’s time to write a new chapter. It’s time for a new type of leadership. Leadership not defined by mistrust and neglect, but leadership that inspires others to follow. The time is now. It’s time for a fresh start. It’s time for a leader like Barack Obama.

I’ve known Barack for 10 years. I have never met anyone with more strength of character and integrity. Barack is one of the kindest and most genuinely decent people in the world. Barack Obama reminds us what is good about America. For me, public service wouldn’t have been possible without the example he set, as a friend, as a man, as the leader this nation needs. He inspired me to run for office and has motivated countless leaders of the next generation. His story has shown it doesn’t matter where you live, whether you are young or old, rich or poor, red or blue. What matters is that we share a belief in his story, my story, our story. That America is more than a place. It’s a promise. And that promise is up to all of us to fulfill.

Thank you. God bless you all.