I think it was not a bad idea to wrap Barack Obama in the mantle of Teddy Roosevelt. He`s been assuming a sort of progressive mantle, and he ticked off some large and systemic problems that this country faces.

The truth is, some of these comments, when you actually ask 'well, this is based on what? This notion that Obama's a socialist, for example?' Nobody can really give you a good answer.

The truth is that America has been closely divided politically for quite some time. That was reflected in some of the challenges I had with the Republican Congress.

The pain I felt was my father's pain.

I face the world as it is and cannot stand idle in the face of threats to the American people. For make no mistake, evil does exist in the world.

One of the things I think the next president has to do is to stop fanning people's fears. If we spend all our time feeding the American people fear and conflict and division, then they become fearful and conflicted and divided. And if we feed them hope and we feed them reason and tolerance, then they will become tolerant and reasonable and hopeful.

I've got two daughters. 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals. But if they make a mistake, I don't want them punished with a baby.