The terror attacks have reshaped the campaign and may have given another boost to Donald Trump.

I do think that you're starting to see young people pay attention to some longterm issues that they feel Washington has neglected.

I commended Angela [Merkel] for her leadership along with President Hollande in working to resolve the conflict in Ukraine. We continued to stand with the people of Ukraine and for the basic principle that nations have a right to determine their own destiny and we discussed the importance of maintaining sanctions until Russia fully complies with the Minsk Agreement.

Reality has a way of asserting itself.

National legislation will prevent other states' flawed concealed-weapons laws from threatening the safety of Illinois residents.

I have much more confidence in my ability, or any president or any leader's ability, to mobilize the American people around a multiyear, multibillion-dollar investment to help every child in poverty in this country than I am in being able to mobilize the country around providing a benefit specific to African Americans as a consequence of slavery and Jim Crow.

Sustaining the energy and focus involved in doing a good job I think starts to gets tougher the longer you do it.