If you're a governor of a big state, people sense your presence a little bit, even your fellow governors.

I do not believe the American people are going to confuse hatred for passion.

If Ralph Nader runs, President Bush is going to be re-elected, and if Ralph Nader doesn't run, President Bush is going to be re-elected. We're going to run on the president's strong and principled leadership and his positive agenda for a second term.

Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.

People like passion in politics.

I think Karl Rove saw that in George W. Bush early on and understood the impact that he could have on Texas politics and probably on national politics.

I'm an American first, and I think that's how most people are.