I am announcing today my candidacy for the Senate of the United States. I make this decision in full knowledge of the obstacles I will face, the charges that will be made, and the heavy responsibilities of the office to which I aspire. But after talking with citizens in every corner of this Commonwealth, my candidacy is based on the conviction that I can win both the nomination and the election, and best serve the people of my home state in this capacity.

The Senate is surely one of the most important bodies in the Free World. Each year its decisions affect the hopes and lives of men and women in every part of the globe, in every state of the Union and in every town, city, and county in Massachusetts. In the months and years immediately ahead, the Senate will be deciding whether our younger citizens will receive the education they need--whether our older citizens will receive the medical care they need--whether our transportation system will flourish or falter--whether our cities will obtain new industries and whether our industries will obtain new contracts and new markets at home and abroad--whether our tax laws, our immigration laws, our anti-recession safeguards and our anti-crime laws are to be modernized and made more effective.

In a Democratic Senate, in a Democratic Congress, under a Democratic administration, Massachusetts must have a Democratic voice in the councils of the Senate--a voice of vigor and authority that will be heard.

I have sufficient confidence in the people of Massachusetts to believe that it is on the basis of these issues--and nothing else -- that they will make their choice for Senator. This state is proud of its historic achievement of the past and its outstanding leaders of the present. I begin today a campaign -- on the issues--pledged to build the future of Massachusetts.