Earlier this afternoon, I participated in the National Press Club’s Luncheon which featured both DNC Chair Howard Dean and myself.  We both gave remarks regarding the outcome of the election and took questions from both press and attending guests.

I spoke on how America has finally realized a vision of a color-blind society that was first inspired the Republican Party into being on the eve of Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday.  I noted that our vice-presidential nominee – Sarah Palin – received more votes than any woman in American history.  In all, with Barack Obama’s promises to cut taxes, merit pay for public school teachers, and renewed offshore drilling, I would say he simply ran the most successful moderate Republican presidential campaign since Dwight Eisenhower. 

In reflection, what has changed since 2004 is not the national philosophy, but the national mood.  President-elect Obama leads a center-left party, but he must now govern a center-right nation.

Last night I attended the RNC Election Night Party where I watched the election returns come in with our staff and volunteers.  Though we fell short of our goal of retaining the White House in a very difficult political environment, I’m grateful for the strong efforts that everyone made on our Party’s behalf.

As Chairman, I’m confident our Party will be back stronger than ever in elections to come as we work to promote policies that make America safer and more prosperous.  I look forward to continuing our work together and rebuilding our Party to meet the challenges ahead.

Happy Election Day!  I woke up this morning and turned the next page on my calendar (see photo below).  I am excited to see this day here - so many volunteers and staffers have worked tirelessly on behalf of Senator McCain and the entire Republican ticket.  I urge you to vote and take friends and neighbors with you.  Today we are going to elect John McCain and Sarah Palin to the White House!

Hello from Shepherdsville, Kentucky!  I have just finished participating in a victory rally here with special guest First Lady Laura Bush.  She gave a rousing address in front of an audience of 1,500 and urged them to get out the vote for John McCain and the rest of the Republican ticket.

Good afternoon.  We are now three days away.  This morning I was back in my hometown of Inez, Kentucky to walk door-to-door and make phone calls to the voters in the Upper Inez Precinct of Martin County where I am still the precinct captain.  All politics are on the local level – working with voters one to one.

I would like to share with you a quote by Abraham Lincoln that I think about almost everyday.  This is what he had to say regarding one election:

“Organize the whole state, so that every Whig can be brought to the polls . . . divide (the) county into small districts, and . . . .appoint in each a sub-committee, . . . make a perfect list of all the voters and . . . ascertain with certainty for whom they will vote, . . . keep a constant watch on the doubtful voters, and . . . have them talked to by those in whom they have the most confidence, . . . and on election days see that every Whig is brought to the polls.”

Please take his advice to heart . . . and as a call to action.  Please reach out to your neighbors.  Make phone calls.  Knock on doors.  Encourage your friends and family to contribute their time and, if possible, their resources to the Party.  Most of all, please get out and vote.

Let’s surge to victory for our Party; for our principles; and for John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Thank you.

Hello from West Virginia!  Today we started with stops in Ohio.  In Zanesville, I was introduced to a volunteer who has made over 8,300 phone calls herself and still going strong!  That is outstanding dedication! 

I am meeting individuals like her all over the country who are inspired by John McCain and Sarah Palin.  In fact, there are over 1.1 million volunteers who have already made over 20 million voter contacts.  We are ahead of where we were in 2004 and racing at an impressive clip.  

After making a few more stops, we ended the evening in Charleston, WV at an event with Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito.  I visited with volunteers, students for McCain, and I even made phone calls to make sure people are getting out to vote for the McCain-Palin ticket.  I hope you will join me in reaching out to your friends and neighbors as well.  In all, we had another hugely successful day on the bus tour.

We are now 4 days away.  Being from Kentucky where college basketball reigns, I think of these days as the Final Four and we are marching to victory!