I think the most important thing is [to] restore a sense of idealism and end the cynicism in state government. Bring to the job a desire to really make things happen and help people and give confidence back to the public.

Kids today are technologically sophisticated. In many families, they are far ahead of their parents

Part of protecting our homeland means being less dependent on foreign countries for our energy.

Parents don't need government to raise their kids. That's their job. But government can help them protect their children from influences they may not want their kids exposed to

I don't believe there's any cloud that hangs over me. I think there's nothing but sunshine hanging over me.

Ask any woman and she'll tell you: health care for women is more expensive than it is for men. In fact, during their reproductive years, women spend 68% more on health care than men do.

I'm blacker than Barack Obama. I shined shoes. I grew up in a five-room apartment. My father had a little laundromat in a black community not far from where we lived. I saw it all growing up.