Coakley Accepts Nomination With ‘Great Honor, Humility’

Martha Coakley does a television interview outside of the Brooks Elementary School Tuesday morning. Coakley, a Medford resident, votes at the school. Courtesy photo.

Below is text of an email sent to supporters from Martha Coakley’s campaign. Most of the text below was spoken by the candidate during her victory party Tuesday night:

We did it!

The polls have closed, the voters have spoken, and I am so delighted to tell you that tonight, with great honor and humility, I will accept the Democratic Party nomination to the United States Senate.
I am so grateful for your support in this campaign. With focus, grit, hard work, optimism, enthusiasm, commitment, and a sense of humor, you made tonight possible.

Last week at a 1208 Countdown stop in South Hadley, I spoke with a young man in a wheelchair. He asked me why many buildings in Massachusetts didn’t have full access for those with disabilities. My response was, frankly, we haven’t done as well as we should. I told him that it was just one of the reasons I admired Senator Ted Kennedy: because he worked tirelessly to make life as fair as possible for everyone. That young man gave me a mug with some text from Lewis Carroll’s “Through the Looking Glass”:

“There is no use trying,” said Alice, “one can’t believe impossible things.”

“I dare say you haven’t had much practice,” said the Queen. “When I was your age, I always did it for half an hour a day. Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast.”

From the bottom of my heart, I want to offer a sincere thank you to you, your families, and all those across this great Commonwealth, from the Berkshires to Boston, from Peabody to Provincetown, who worked so hard for these past months to make this victory possible!

You helped me convince the voters to send a different kind of leader to Washington, one who can see all the possibilities and who will get to work on those problems that have seemed impossible to change.

I also want to thank each of my fellow candidates – Mike, Steve and Alan – for running a vigorous, civil, and positive campaign. I look forward to working with all of them not just towards victory on January 19th – but after that to working together to show this Commonwealth that the solutions we seek are within reach.

I entered this race because I believe that Massachusetts needs a Senator who will work to restore a healthy economy, to reform our health care system, to protect our environment and seek energy solutions, to make our communities and our nation safer, and to protect and defend our civil rights. If we roll up our sleeves and work together, all of these are quite simply, possible.

And I know that with YOUR help and support we can defy the impossible and we will be successful in moving this Commonwealth and this country into a brighter future.

Thank you again.

Tonight, we celebrate, and then let’s get ready for a victory on January 19th!

With personal gratitude,
Martha Coakley