(AP) WASHINGTON - President-elect Barack Obama says he remains "as hopeful as ever" that the nation will overcome the most difficult challenges it has faced in generations.

In prepared remarks for a crowd attending a concert on the National Mall, Obama tells his audience they are the ones responsible for his promise of change.

He speaks of men and women from different backgrounds who ask "only for what was promised us as Americans _ that we might make of our lives what we will and see our children climb higher than we did."

The president-elect says solving the nation’s problems will take time, that the road will be long and the climb will be steep.