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.

It is important for us to understand that the way we are perceived in the world is going to make a difference, in terms of our capacity to get cooperation and root out terrorism. And one of the things that I intend to do as president is to restore America's standing in the world.

I think if you worked at the community level in Chicago and then a politician on the South Side of Chicago, and worked at the state level, then you're pretty familiar with all the variations of politics in the African American community and criticisms you may get. If you're not familiar with those or you don't have a thick enough skin to take it, then you probably wouldn't have gotten here.

In a world of complex threats, our security and leadership depends on all elements of our power - including strong and principled diplomacy.

Under my plan of a cap-and-trade system, electricity rates would necessarily skyrocket.

[When I ordered 30,000 more troops into Afghanistan] that was the first time in which I looked out at a crowd of West Point graduates and knew that some of those might not come back because of that decision.

I can be much more sarcastic and, I think, sometimes withering in my assessments of things than I allow to show in my public life.