I was an entrepreneur. I started a construction firm in New Mexico and grew it to employ more than 1,000 workers. I have lived the American dream. I ran for Governor because I saw that state government had grown too large and too intrusive — and was endangering the opportunity for others to succeed as I had.

And that’s why I’m running for President. Government should protect freedom, not be a threat to it.

Bill Weld and I both succeeded in reducing the size of government in our states. We can do it in Washington, D.C. The one thing the other two candidates have in common is that their plans for America would mean more government, less freedom, and a lot more debt.

Ms. Clinton thinks too many Americans have guns and wants to make it harder for us to own them. When the Supreme Court confirmed the 2nd Amendment right of individuals to keep and bear arms, she disagreed. I believe the 2nd Amendment means what it says.

As Secretary of State, she was responsible for promoting counter-productive policies in Iraq, Libya, Egypt and Syria. These should not be America's wars.

Instead, our nation needs the confidence that it has a commander-in-chief who will act predictably and responsibly to defend America — and not to aggressive elsewhere in our name.