I'm a Catholic, raised a Catholic. I was an altar boy. Religion has been a huge part of my life. It helped lead me through a war, leads me today.

I will never conduct a war or start a war because we want to; the United States of America should only go to war because we have to. And if you live by that guidance, you'll never have veterans throwing away their medals or standing up in protest.

America is the most powerful economy in the world. We're an $18-trillion-dollar economy.

At every step of the way, George W. Bush has put the narrow interests of the few ahead of the interests of most Americans.

Democrats proposing success in Iraq by political solution.

When I was in Vietnam I learned a lot about the promises that soldiers make to each other. The Marines have a promise to never leave behind their dead. In this country, as citizen soldiers, we need to make the commitment to each other that we will never leave our veterans behind.

I'm motivated by my passion for our basic values, protecting our interests, and for protecting the future.