Before his Election Night speech last night, Barack sent out this message to suppporters:

I'm about to head to Grant Park to talk to everyone gathered there, but I wanted to write to you first.

We just made history.

And I don't want you to forget how we did it.

You made history every single day during this campaign -- every day you knocked on doors, made a donation, or talked to your family, friends, and neighbors about why you believe it's time for change.

I want to thank all of you who gave your time, talent, and passion to this campaign. We have a lot of work to do to get our country back on track, and I'll be in touch soon about what comes next.

But I want to be very clear about one thing...

All of this happened because of you.

Thank you,

Barack

Dear Friend,

I'm out here in Denver, Colorado visiting the site of the Democratic National Convention, and there is excitement in the mountain air.

Folks are working hard on Barack's plan for a truly open convention. It's a new and exciting approach that will open up this historic event -- just like you have opened up our political process through grassroots ownership of this campaign.

In just a few weeks, more than 75,000 people will enter a huge stadium here to see Barack accept the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.

You can be a part of that moment.

Free tickets will soon be available for the event, but in the meantime I wanted to tell you about another, very special opportunity.

If you make a donation in any amount before midnight on July 31st, you could be selected to travel to Denver for the final two days of the convention -- including the huge event at the open-air stadium on the final night.

Ten supporters will be selected from all over the country, and each will be able to bring one guest. We'll provide airfare, accommodations, and two days of convention activities -- including a private meeting with Barack before his historic speech.

Our team shot a short video of the stadium to give you a sense of the event. Watch the video and make a donation of $25 today, and you could go Backstage with Barack:

Video: See where Barack will make history:

 

https://donate.barackobama.com/backstage

Our movement for change is the largest grassroots organization in the history of presidential politics. It's also the first true 50-state campaign in a generation.

We're competing in Alaska and Florida, Virginia and New Mexico, North Carolina and Georgia -- all because of you and our shared goal to bring as many people as possible back into the political process.

That means registering hundreds of thousands of new voters and relying on volunteers and supporters like you to help get out the vote.

But competing in every state will take unprecedented resources, and we need your help.

To give you an idea of what we're up against: John McCain and the Republican National Committee finished June with nearly 100 million dollars in cash on hand. Together with shadowy outside spending groups, they will spend huge sums of that money to spread negative messages about Barack and try to stop this movement for change. It will take all of us working together to counter their efforts.

Make a donation of $25 or more and you and a guest could be selected to come to Denver and go Backstage with Barack:

Supporters like you are the reason this campaign has been possible. We are thrilled that some of you will be able to celebrate what you accomplished with us in Denver.

But we have a long way to go and Barack can't do this without you.

Thanks,

Steve

Friend --

I wanted you to be the first to hear the news.

At the Democratic National Convention next month, we're going to kick off the general election with an event that opens up the political process the same way we've opened it up throughout this campaign.

Barack has made it clear that this is your convention, not his.

On Thursday, August 28th, he's scheduled to formally accept the Democratic nomination in a speech at the convention hall in front of the assembled delegates.

Instead, Barack will leave the convention hall and join more than 75,000 people for a huge, free, open-air event where he will deliver his acceptance speech to the American people.

It's going to be an amazing event, and Barack would like you to join him. Free tickets will become available as the date approaches, but we've reserved a special place for a few of the people who brought us this far and who continue to drive this campaign.

If you make a donation of $5 or more between now and midnight on July 31st, you could be one of 10 supporters chosen to fly to Denver and spend two days and nights at the convention, meet Barack backstage, and watch his acceptance speech in person. Each of the ten supporters who are selected will be able to bring one guest to join them.

Make a donation now and you could have a front row seat to history.

We'll follow up with more details on this and other convention activities as we get closer, but please take a moment and pass this note to someone you know who might like to be there.

It will be an event you'll never forget.

Thank you,

David

David Plouffe
Campaign Manager
Obama for America

Here is the video of Barack's full speech from Independence, Missouri:

In his speech, Barack spoke about what patriotism means to him, both throughout his life and at this moment, as we begin the general election:

At the beginning of a week when we celebrate the birth of our nation, I think it is fitting to pause for a moment and reflect on the meaning of patriotism... We do so in part because we are in the midst of war – more than one and a half million of our finest young men and women have now fought in Iraq and Afghanistan; over 60,000 have been wounded, and over 4,600 have been laid to rest. The costs of war have been great, and the debate surrounding our mission in Iraq has been fierce. It is natural, in light of such sacrifice by so many, to think more deeply about the commitments that bind us to our nation, and to each other.

We reflect on these questions as well because we are in the midst of a presidential election, perhaps the most consequential in generations; a contest that will determine the course of this nation for years, perhaps decades, to come.

You can watch more videos and highlights at YouTube.com/barackobama.