SUSANA MARTINEZ

There is one candidate in this election who will protect that dream. One leader who will fight hard to keep the promise of America for the next generation. And that's why we must stand up and make Mitt Romney the next president of the United States.

At 18, I guarded the parking lot at the Catholic Church bingos. Now, my dad made sure I could take care of myself. I carried a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum - that gun weighed more than I did!

I will veto any tax increase.

Latinos care about education, yes, so we need reform, not just money.

Growing up, I never imagined a girl from a border town could one day become a governor.

Too many Americans are out of work, and our debt is out of control.

Republicans want to be tough and say, 'Illegals, you're gone.' But the answer is a lot more complex than that.

I've always known that my father's father and grandfather and grandmother were from Mexico. I've never denied it. I've always said it.

Growing up I never imagined a little girl from a border town could one day become a governor. But this is America. In America algo es possible.

Despite what some would have us believe, success is not built on resentment and fear.

I fear some of our leaders today have lost the courage to stand up. What we have now are politicians. They won't offer real plans, and only stand up when they want to blame someone else.

As the first Hispanic female governor in history, little girls often come up to me in the grocery store or the mall. They look and point, and when they get the courage, they ask 'Are you Susana?' and they run up and give me a hug.

In New Mexico, I inherited the largest structural deficit in state history, and our legislature is controlled by Democrats. We don't always agree, but we came together in a bipartisan manner and turned that deficit into a surplus. And we did it without raising taxes.

My parents grew that small business from one 18-year-old guarding a bingo to more than 125 employees in three states. And sure, there was help along the way. But my parents took the risk. They stood up. And you better believe they built it.

New Mexico is an environment where we are open for business.

At 18, I guarded the parking lot at the Catholic church bingos. Now my dad made sure I could take care of myself. I carried a Smith and Wesson 357 magnum.

Sometimes Republicans engage in number-crunching analysis that doesn't always take the neediest into account.

My dad was a golden gloves boxer in the Marine Corps, then a deputy sheriff. My mom worked as an office assistant.

I registered Democrat because my parents did. They were, we were. There was no thinking behind it.

I absolutely advocate for comprehensive immigration reform.

I've known where my heritage is from all along.

We talked about many issues, like welfare, is it the way of life or hand up? Talked about size of government, how much should it tax families and small businesses? And when we left that lunch, we got in the car and I looked over at Chuck and said, 'I'll be damned. we're Republicans.'

I am my own person.

The criminal justice system should have the authority to determine the immigration status of all criminals, regardless of race or ethnicity, and report illegal immigrants who commit crimes to federal authorities.

When I first registered to vote I registered as a Democrat.