‘Hungry for Change’

If people have doubts about that, just look at how we've handled this campaign, where others who supposedly are far more seasoned and ready to lead maybe haven't always handled the pressures or the ups and downs of the campaign as well. I've said from the outset that starting from scratch, starting from zero, we've built the best political organization in the field. And I think that yesterday confirms it. I have managed this operation without any drama. My staff is famous for being courteous and treating people with respect.

At some point people have to stop asserting that because I haven't been in the league long enough, I can't play. It's sort of like Magic Johnson or LeBron James keep on scoring 30, and their team gets wins but people say they can't lead their team because they're too young.

By running for president in a post-9/11 world, you are saying to parents in New York, Washington and the rest of the country that they can rely on you to keep their children safe from harm.
Yes, I am saying that.

Why should people believe that?
Because I have a 9-year-old and a 6-year-old in Chicago who I intend to keep safe from harm. The notion that I would put them in harm's way makes no sense. Look, the question presupposes that there's somebody out there who has gone through 9/11. Who is that person other than George W. Bush? And I think we know how that worked out.

There was a meeting in late October [a strategy session at a Chicago supporter's apartment] where [a top adviser] was encouraging you to kneecap Hillary Clinton and you said, "I don't want to win that way."
There's certain things I won't do.

How do you draw the line? Where do you draw the line?
I think it was Justice [Potter] Stewart during an obscenity case, when they asked him what obscenity is, he said, "I know it when I see it." I know where I think you cross the line into the dark side of politics. I have no problem contrasting my policy positions with others. I don't mind others drawing contrasts with my policy positions. The latest gambit by the Clinton folks on health care is something that I think is misleading, but I don't think is out of bounds. They believe in a mandate, having the government force everybody to buy health insurance, and I focus more on cost. I think that's not a practical or the best approach. For them to say that means I would leave 15 million uninsured [is misleading]. I think the average person out on the street would assume that means I would just leave them uncovered. [In fact,] this is [what economists project to be] the 3 percent of the population whom the Clintons assert do not want health care and would not buy it even if it was offered at an affordable cost. I might have arguments with them about the content of their negative ad, but I don't think it's out of bounds. On the other hand, if I see the flurry of e-mails that are going out--we haven't traced these to anybody, but they're in the ether--talking about me being a …