Al Gore is a good man. He is a decent, caring man. He listens to his heart and his head. He loves his family.

I hope we can get back to what I call the kitchen table. Everyday issues that people are really worried about and focused on.

When you succeed (with legislation), that feeling is exhilaration. And it takes leadership from a president, which means you meet with members of Congress 24/7 and you talk and you listen.

I think a lot of people think I was born in a blue suit, on the David Brinkley show. And that isn't me. I am much more that kid who grew up in South St. Louis, in a very modest household, with a simple background with parents who didn't get through high school.

Politics takes patience, time, listening and endless meetings.

If you want to run for president, you better be an athlete. It's 24/7. It never ends. You give up your personal life completely and you have something of a chance to be shot.

The Department of Education should not be producing paid political advertising for the president, it should be helping us to produce smarter students.