Transcript for Martin O'Malley Suspends Presidential Campaign

I I cannot. Words cannot express how grateful I am. To all of you my true friends who have. Have helped me in waging this courageous battle when I got into this eight months ago I had no doubt. That it would be anything but a tough fight and it is a tough I. But I've always been drawn to a tough fight and I felt when I got into this is look down the road tonight I felt very firmly. That our country was scanning the horizon looking for new possibilities and new leadership and a way to heal our divisions and move us forward and you guys have been with me every step of the way and I cannot thank you enough. I have come to love Iowa. Okay. The beauty of your landscape. The warmth. Of your people. And I always been like a second home for me this past year. From college campuses the family farms I have had the privilege of getting to know islands. Whose passion for our democracy is well known and renowned. And and now want to share with you just 111 brief story I was in Burlington. And that collected so many stories across your state. From really decent care. Compassionate. Man and woman who love our country. But I will never forget one of these in fact that I told reporter earlier today it was the story always carry with me. And Burlington I met a woman whose son is served two tours of duty in Iraq. And she and she knew that there was an upcoming democratic debate. And she came up to me she said governor. One all of you candidates for on stage together. I want you to please. Tell the other candidates. Not to. Referred to might side. As a pair of boots on the ground. She should my son is an American soldier. And he is my son. And I was so proud. To be able to honor. That request of hers. And in an essence that's what these Iowa Caucuses are all about. It's about each person's voice being heard each person's story being hurt. And I Katie and the kids and decided that it would be an extreme poverty indeed if the Democratic Party only had two candidates to choose from. It. And certainly made this pie. And I cannot think used enough for a you can meet opportune. To be a part of writing this story. Of our country's future I want to thank everyone came to earth that's in lit interior everyone who went out to caucus for me tonight. I've ever. And I want to give you my deepest gratitude. And I was getting I was getting tweets from people in caucus locations. God bless Dennison by the way. Seized situated. And she's able native we're getting calls from other Q sweet reason we're here. They're yelling at us but tell the governor were holding strong. The and. You know my parents thought the six of us that the only that the politics is actually in noble. Service to others and that the only thing wrong with that is not enough good people bother to try. Each of us has the power and responsibility. To hold strong and point our country to a better future. Our economy isn't money it's people. It's all of our people. And no one who works hard for living should ever have to raise their children in poverty. It was there costs that that we made our costs and was part of this tough fight. And we have to hold strong for that fight. We have to continue to fight to make the minimum wage a living wage so that every family our hard yeah. To pay overtime pay for overtime work and equal pay for men and women and. And we. Also have to hold strong to visit to the values and the principles that. That unite us we have to be on afraid that face our challenges merry. We have to be able to look at climate change and see that it's the greatest business opportunity to come to the United States of America. In a hundred years and and I was honored to be the first candidate to put forward a plan to move is still a 100%. Clean electric energy grid like money fifty. They create. On the way. We are a great nation. And we are good and we are compassionate generous people. And we have to hold strong to the values that make us Americans. And that too is what this stuff by it was about. Our diversity users are and we need comprehensive immigration reform totally let them. Out of the shadow economy and into the full light of that and American economy. I had that that was so many people across their country met with the family and the nearest them. In Texas. And two parents on document. Two of their older docked daughters covered by president Obama's executive action and their thirteen year old girl Abigail. Born in the USA. America uses and this girl goes to school every single day. Wondering and fear all day that when she goes home the doors of her home will be kicked open her parents will be deported. We better people and that. And we need to continue to hold strong to that Ruth. That the enduring symbol of the United States of America is not a barbed wire fence it is the statue of liberty. And to the most incredible people the most inspiring people on the courses campaign which Andy and on Phillips. They lost their daughter Jesse in that theater shooting in a Rory Texas in the use this campaign. To transform their grief and you know it everyone. We also helped transform the grief. Of all of those who have lost loved ones to gums and nonviolence it was because of our campaign. That we drove this issue and it's because of this campaign that we will restore common sense gun safety legislation. And said look. This cause continues. This type fight continues. And I have never been more proud. Of the people that have been associated with this campaign. I've never worked with better group of of young American. And patriotic men and women and the ones I worked with on this campaign. And I also want to say this. That look no man ever had a stronger more courageous family in a tough fight than I've had. Katie O'Malley. Katie thank you for standard by me every step of the way and thank you for being the level my life. My sword and mine field and with that you. We would never. Though as many people as we have and grace thank you terror and Jack and Williams. The closure. I think one of the proudest moments of this campaign was when I tuned in MSNBC. And I saw William. Very. Very clearly without any anger without any fear. Call out the racist and fascist rhetoric of Donald Trump. I'd say very firmly that he's looking forward to the fall because his body's getting hit Donald from like a freight train. And I just might. So look gang in. In conclusion. There is no conclusions. This fight continues but look weeks fought very very hard. In order to give the people a choice. And the people have made their choice tonight. And that was hard to get over that threshold here and I know that those numbers don't reflect all of the hard work that you do. But we heard in this debate and and so tonight I I have to tell you that I am suspending. This presidential bid. But I am not. And in this fight because the fight that you are and I are engaged in is a tough life. And I believe that the toughness of the fighters the way they didn't as telling us were actually fighting for something were to say. Our country's worth saving the American dream is worth saving and this planet is worth saving. So as we march forward to befall let us all resolved together. That the love the generosity the compassion and the commitment of this campaign will continue to point our country forward. That we must hold strong for that third year third grade kid who's only going to be in third grade once we must hold strong. For that senior citizen who has worked her whole life and now finds herself having to choose between her food. And her medicine let us hold strong for that mom and dad. Who were working three jobs between them in order to make ends meet and split now over cut out the bills over the kitchen table after the kids are in bed look. We are a great country and we are good people because of our generosity because of our compassion because of the belief we share in the dignity of every person. Our own responsibility to advance the common good and our understanding that yes in fact we are all in this together all of us. New Americans. American Muslims. Gay and lesbian transgender Americans all. Americans we are one. Our clauses one and we must help each other if we are to succeed god bless you guys and god bless the United States of America. For allowing me to make this offering how to below thank you.

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