You know, I've been to a lot of places and visited with a lot people. But I've got to tell you: there's no place like New York.

This is the greatest city in the world.

Now, my wife grew up in Brooklyn. And Brooklyn's a great place.

But Harlem's got one thing Brooklyn doesn't - Charlie Rangel.

For more than three decades, Charlie has been a powerful voice for those who too often go unheard in the halls of Congress.

And let me tell you, when Charlie talks, people listen.

He's been on the frontlines of some of the toughest battles - from civil rights, to education, to health care.

So this summer, when I was deciding to run for president, there was one phone call I got that was particularly persuasive:

"General, this is Sergeant Charlie Rangel ..."

You know you're in good shape when you have Charlie on your side.

He's been a great friend and trusted advisor.

And I'm honored to have his endorsement.

These days, there's something Charlie and I spend a lot of time talking about: how George W. Bush has spent three years squandering everything we worked so hard to build.

Back in the 2000 campaign, he said he was going to create jobs...

He's lost them.

He said he was going to protect our environment...

He's polluted it.

He said he was going to leave no child behind...

Our schools are cash-starved, overcrowded, and failing.

He's says he believes in freedom...

But he appointed an Attorney General who spends his days taking our freedoms away.

He said he was going to have a humble foreign policy...

He's alienated nearly every one of our allies.

He said he was going to bring fiscal responsibility to Washington...

He's turned record surpluses into record deficits.

For three long years, President Bush has taken our country in one direction: the wrong direction.

And I'm running for president because I want to turn it around.

We need a president who can bring a lifetime of leadership experience to put America back on top again.

Someone who's been in the trenches and on the frontlines.

Someone who doesn't just talk the talk, but walks the walk.

That's what I did every day as an officer in the U.S. Army.

I fought to make sure that our soldiers had top notch health care.

That their children had first-class schools and access to Headstart.

That they had affordable housing and time with their families.

And no matter what challenge we faced, one thing was always true:

With the right plan, hard-working troops and good leadership, you can turn any situation around.

That's what I've been talking about this week: my Turnaround Plan for America - a plan to tackle our toughest domestic challenges and get our country moving forward again.

Today, I want to talk to you about one part of that plan -- my goal to lift two million American children out of poverty.

Under George W. Bush, here in the richest nation in the world, more than half a million children have sunk into poverty.

Right here in New York City, more than 25 percent of children live below the poverty line. That's one in four children in America's wealthiest city - living right in the shadow of Wall Street and Park Avenue.

The effects of growing up in poverty can last a lifetime.

Studies show that poverty literally shaves points off a child's IQ score, and stunts their potential for learning.

We can - and must - do better.

And I've got a plan to turn it around.

My plan has three parts.

First, we need to create jobs and get the economy growing again, because we know that the best anti-poverty program is a job.

My Job Creation Plan will take back President Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans - those earning more than $200,000 -- and use that money to jumpstart the economy and create jobs.

Second, we're going to make work pay. We can't expect people to provide for their families when their jobs don't provide for them.

That's why I'm going to raise the minimum wage to $7 an hour by 2007 and expand the Earned Income Tax Credit, so that lower-income families are rewarded, not punished, for their work.

Third, we need to give people the tools they need to get out of poverty - and stay out.

That's why my education plan guarantees access to preschool for every single American child. Why my health care plan guarantees access to affordable insurance for all Americans, and coverage for every single American child.

And why I'm going to make transportation, child care, and housing affordable to all working Americans.

Lifting two million children out of poverty is an ambitious goal.

But I believe leaders need to set ambitious goals and work hard to achieve them.

That's what I will do as President.

Thank you.

» Read Clark's Child Poverty Plan
» Read Clark's Turnaround Pledge (PDF)
» State by State Breakdown of Goals