For Sen. Charles Schumer, it was like coming home to visit an auditorium full of old friends. NYSUT members gave New York's senior senator a rousing welcome, and Schumer in turn recounted his relationship with the union that dates back to 1973, when NYSUT's endorsement helped him become a member of the state Assembly at age 23.

"I've always been close to labor — you guys helped elect me," Schumer said. He asked for NYSUT's help once again as the country gears up for the 2008 presidential election — an election that Schumer predicted will be "tectonic" in its historical significance.

"We must take our country back, Schumer said. " America has been taken from us — it has been robbed from us by a group I call the 'economic royalists.'"

Schumer, who chairs the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, said he is optimistic about the presidential race. All 12 Democratic senatorial seats that are up for re-election are safe, and it's possible that the Democrats could take enough of the 23 Republican seats up for re-election to give the Democrats 60 seats in the Senate, he said.

Said Schumer to strong applause, "Marching shoulder to shoulder, we can, we will, we must restore America as God's noble experiment, and I look forward to doing it with you."