As many of you know, I grew up in Chester County and have recently moved my family back here for this race. Although it was only a two mile move, I could not be happier that we did so. What I see in Chester County is a thriving, honest party that is rooted in the principles I hold so dear, and that is why it is governed so well on the local level. I truly appreciate everyone here today who listened with an open mind, and I enjoyed our discussions about the local and national issues that are so important to our region. It is a testament to the strength and organization of the Chester County Republican Party for holding a fully open and fair process, and I could not have asked for anything more.

This campaign has certainly been a life-changing experience. The more you engage in the debate over the direction of our great nation, the more you appreciate the importance of the fight, and the need to fight even harder. However, it has become clear that fighting in this campaign will do more harm than good, which is why I am announcing the end of my candidacy.

While I am withdrawing from this campaign, I am not withdrawing from the fight. I simply believe I can promote the ideas that I am so passionate about – those of a small, decentralized government and personal responsibility – in a more constructive manner by helping other candidates who agree with this philosophy.

There are difficult and important decisions that are going to be made here today. As someone who has been outside the political process, I wanted to share with you what I have witnessed during my eight months on the campaign trail.

Ordinary Americans want to trust their government again, and are looking for leadership that will ensure our great nation honors the sacrifices of those who have come before us, and leaders who will work tirelessly to provide the same opportunities we had to those who will come after us. It is the party that wins the trust of the American people that will be the majority party for years to come.

For us, the path forward should be very clear – we must send leaders to Harrisburg and Washington that live by the principles that everyone in this room holds so dear. And we must be able to communicate why these values should matter to every American, and why the concept of centralized power in Washington will in the long run fail the very people it claims to help.

We have a unique opportunity in 2010 to bring this party back to its core values. To elect a Senator like Pat Toomey, a business-owner who has been on the side of reason, logic and the American people his entire career. We can elect a Governor like Tom Corbett who has worked in the private sector and run his own business, who has fought corruption and the structural problems that plague Harrisburg.

Here in Chester County we can send Jim Gerlach back to Congress and ask him to champion the ideas of the party and lead the way to restore trust in government.

Let’s make sure we support principled candidates who represent the Republican values and those of the American people; candidates who can bring new people into the fold because of their honesty, integrity and willingness to make the tough choices that lay ahead; candidates who will focus on the problems we face, not the petty politics that drag us down; candidates we can build the party around because they lead with a compass.

I want to thank you for all of the hard work you have done, and all that you will do in the coming elections. I look forward to joining you in restoring the faith and confidence of voters in our principles, and making sure that the American Dream is available for all of our children, just as it was for us.