The following are remarks delivered Thursday by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

What an amazing crowd. Thank you for this warm welcome. Thank you so much. One of the greatest gifts of our democracy is the opportunity it offers us every four years to change course. It's not a guarantee; it's only an opportunity.

The question facing us simply put is: Will we seize this opportunity for a change?

(APPLAUSE)

That's why I came here tonight to tell you why I feel so strongly that we must seize this opportunity to elect Barack Obama president of the United States of America.

(APPLAUSE)

Eight years ago, some said there was not much difference between the nominees of the two major parties and it didn't really matter who became president. Our nation was enjoying peace and prosperity, and some assumed we would continue with both, no matter the outcome.

But here we all are in 2008, and I doubt anyone would argue now that election didn't matter.

Take it from me. If it had ended differently, we would not be bogged down in Iraq; we would have pursued bin Laden until we captured him.

(APPLAUSE)

We wouldn't be facing a self-inflicted economic crisis; we'd be fighting for middle-income families.

We would not be showing contempt for the Constitution; we'd be protecting the rights of every American regardless of race, religion, disability, gender, or sexual orientation.

(APPLAUSE)

And we would not be denying the climate crisis; we'd be solving the climate crisis.

Today, we face essentially the same choice we faced in 2000, though it may be even more obvious now, because John McCain, a man who has earned our respect on many levels, is now openly endorsing the policies of the Bush-Cheney White House and promising to actually continue them.

The same policies, those policies, all over again? Hey, I believe in recycling, but that's ridiculous.

(APPLAUSE)

With John McCain's support, President Bush and Vice President Cheney have led our nation into one calamity after another because of their indifference to facts, their readiness to sacrifice the long term to the short term, subordinate the general good to the benefit of the few, and short-circuit the rule of law.

If you like the Bush-Cheney approach, John McCain's your man. If you believe it's time for a change, then vote for Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

(APPLAUSE)

What a great speech Joe Biden gave last night.

(APPLAUSE)

Barack Obama is telling us exactly what he will do: launch a bold, new economic plan to restore America's greatness; fight for smarter government that trusts the market, but protects us against its excesses; enact policies that are pro-choice, pro-education, and pro- family; establish a foreign policy that is smart, as well as strong; provide health care for all and solutions for the climate crisis.

So why is this election so close? Well, I know something about close elections, so let me offer you my opinion.

I believe this election is close today mainly because the forces of the status quo are desperately afraid of the change Barack Obama represents.

(APPLAUSE)

There is no better example than the climate crisis. As I have said throughout this land for many years, we are borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. Every bit of that has to change.

(APPLAUSE)

Oil company profits, as you know, have soared to record levels, and gasoline prices have gone through the roof, and we are more dependent than ever on dirty and dangerous fossil fuels.

Many scientists predict shockingly that the entire north polar ice cap may be completely gone during summer months during the first term of the next president.