As we move toward Election 2012, an election that will determine who controls the White House for the next four years and Congress for the next two, we must decide who speaks for us in Congress and in the state legislature.

Essentially, this year’s campaign comes down to basic questions: Do we want a president of real conviction who understands and fights for working Americans, or one who’s out of touch and changes positions with each news cycle?

Do we want a Congress that works with the president to sustain our economic recovery, or one devoted to obstructionism at any cost? Do we want a representative in Congress with a distinguished record of extraordinary public service, or one whose record is marked by corruption, controversy and who refuses to tell us where she stands on critical issues?

Finally, we have to ask ourselves, which party will stand up to narrow interests and defend the interests of all Americans? Which party will put the health and well-being of all of us, men and women alike, ahead of a narrow ideological agenda?

New Yorkers know the answer. Democrats like Andrew Cuomo and Bob Duffy are changing the status quo even as we speak, and in Congress Louise Slaughter has always, always fought for us and always, always will.

Standing with Louise in the House of Representatives is Kathy Hochul, whose upset victory a year ago reminded us that we have a new generation of leaders as eager and able as those who came before them.

That includes County Legislator Ted O’Brien, who announced his candidacy for the 55^th District state Senate seat. He’s led the Democratic Caucus at the legislature with great distinction, and after January 1 he will be an outstanding voice for this community in the New York State Senate. We’re glad to have him with us.

Nationally, I think we all know the score as well.

When George Bush left office, this nation was losing 750,000 jobs a month. The financial markets had collapsed. After hitting a peak of 14,000 the DJIA stood below 8,000 on January 20, 2009.

Today, the DJIA is hovering around the 13,000 mark, and recently it was announced that the number of private-sector jobs is greater than on the day President Obama took office. This, despite the fact that congressional Republicans have attempted to block the president at every turn and offer only more of the same failed George Bush policies that caused our crisis in the first place.

So, Democrats have every right to be proud, proud of our past accomplishments and proud of the candidates who will lead our ticket in the days ahead.

And we are proud to stand by the true principles of democracy, where at the end of the day we are all made equal by the power of the ballot. As President Roosevelt said, “The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a president and senators and congressman and government officials, but the voters of this country.”

That’s the spirit that brings us together.  Working hard –very hard – over the next six months, I know we can succeed on Election Day and lead wisely come next year in that same spirit.

Now, let’s begin….