Obama on Fox transcript. Below, my live watch highlights. I will skip all the silly Obama Watch setup nonsense.
Chris Wallace asks the questions.
Q. PA, what does it mean? White voters?
OBAMA - Keep in mind Sen Clinton was well regarded. That she won should not come as a huge surprise we came back . . . On GE matchups Clinton just a bit better. In WI and VA and IA I won white voters. Confident that when we come to a GE, those are voters I will appeal to.
Q. Is Clinton tougher than you? What about losing white working class 70-30?
OBAMA - Monday morning quarterbacking after you lose is par for the course. I have won them in other states. She ran good campaigns in Ohio and good campaigns in PA, these voters are less familiar with me and I am less familiar with them.
We have always been the underdog in this race. Because I am relatively new.
Q. Isn't there still a racial divide in this country that makes it hard for you to win the Presidency?
OBAMA - I am running better against McCain than Clinton [I believe that is false right now]. I put states in play that Dems have not won in the past. I will bring people together.
Q - Clyburn says blacks are furious about the Clintons. Do you agree with Clyburn?
OBAMA I do not think Clyburn is right. I am confident the Dem Party will come together. Come August, whoever the nominee is, the Party will say we will come together to beat McCain.
Q. Jeremiah Wright a victim?
OBAMA - No. It is a legitimate political issue. But snippets to caricature him and the church, and this was done in a deliberate way. But I got to church not to worship a pastor but to worship God. Look at the whole church and the whole man in judging them.
[More on Wright. Nothing new.]
Q. What were the controversial remarks you said you heard Wright make? And about America?
OBAMA - Problems in the black community are discussed in sharp ways. As for America he has talked about slavery and Jim Crow. He has catalogued the bad in America and not enough about the good.
Q - Do voters have an interest in knowing who you are and what your values are?
OBAMA - Absolutely. But look at my 20 years of community service. Look at how I have raised my family. I do not say that he Wright issue was illegitimate, but that it was done improperly. Look at the flag pins. I have worn flag pins and I will in the future. The reporting was not reflective of me and my patriotism. Remember my 2004 DNC speech.
Q - William Ayers and Tom Coburn. The same?
Obama - No, of course not. I called Coburn afterwards. My point is just because I have an association with someone does not mean I agree with what they say.
[20 minutes in and I do not see Obama taking anybody on.]
Obama says Republicans have better ideas on government regulation.
Boy is he taking on Fox and the GOP today. NOT.
Q. Are you really post partisan? Gang of 14, you were not part of it. Partial birth abortion.
OBAMA - This is fair but I voted for tort reform measure. During the Roberts nomination, I defended my colleagues. On the Daily Kos. I was fiercely attacked for it.
[This is true. Here is the post in question. He did give on on the Roberts issue in the way he discussed it.]
On partial birth abortion or late term abortion, I grant that the state can restrict it, so long as it has exceptions for the health of the mother.
As President, I want to bring people together and listen to all sides of the debate. I want to get us out of the polarizing debate.
[This is all gibberish imo.]
Q - Will you vote to confirm Petraeus as Cent Com?
Obama - Yes, Petraeus has been a good tactical commander.
Q - If Petraeus disagrees with you, will you replace him?
Obama - I am C-i-C and I see the strategic mission. I will listen to him of course, but I am the President.
Debates? We have had 21. We want to talk to the voters.
Premature to discuss running mates. Open to it? I am going to punt on the question.
IF you are ahead in the PV and PD will people be angry? Obama, yes they will be angry. But here is my belief, Dem will be unified. I think I am the unifier.
Obama will run privately financed campaign, first since Watergate? [Is this correct? I thought bush and Kerry were privately financed?]
Obama looks for way out of his public finance commitment.
What have you learned? OBAMA - I have the right temperament to be President. I have an even keel. Mistakes? I made a few. Actually all the time. I talk too much. instead of listening. I learned I miss my family.
[Comments now closed.]
