I was a Republican and I saw the activists and what they were doing, it was intolerable to me.

I've decided to do it, for the pure and simple reason that I just think it's the right thing to do.

Half a century ago, Ronald Reagan, the man whose relentless optimism inspired me to enter politics, famously said that he didn't leave the Democratic Party; the party left him. I can certainly relate. I didn't leave the Republican Party; it left me.

I'm here tonight, not as a Republican, not as a Democrat, but as an optimistic American who understands that we must come together behind the one man who can lead the way forward in these challenging times: my president, our president, Barack Obama!

Can you even imagine not hugging?

I'll continue to fight for school choice and home schooling. Do I believe in accountability? You bet I do.

I don't want a lot of bureaucracy... I want to run state government the same way we run a campaign - efficient, effective and victorious.