Nine years ago today, I stood on the steps of the Old State Capitol in Springfield, Illinois, to announce my candidacy for President of the United States.

I asked you to join me in taking up the unfinished business of perfecting our union -- to work together to build a better future.

Along the way, Americans like you have done that by playing the most important role in our democracy -- the role of citizen. You've taken on the painstaking work of progress. You've helped us find that middle ground where real change is won -- change like rescuing our economy from the brink of another Great Depression, protecting our planet, and helping millions of Americans gain health insurance.

I'll be the first to admit that this journey hasn't always been easy, especially when our politics can seem so small. But I'm still hopeful that our politics can reflect the basic decency of the American people.

That's why I'm going back to Springfield today -- because fixing our broken politics cannot wait. And I still believe we can do it together.

I hope you'll tune in today at 2:30 p.m. Eastern.

President Barack Obama