I recognize that a president comes in with a lot of stuff coming at him. But the Middle East peace process is so important that we can't reserve it to the end of a presidency. We've got to start soon, and I'm going to be absolutely…

That's why I believe that my Iraq approach is much better to an approach that is, essentially, open-ended when it comes to John McCain.

But I think it's important for us to say to the Iraqis, 'We're not here for the long haul. It's time for you guys to achieve agreement on critical issues like how you're dividing up oil revenues, how provincial government is relating to…

We've got to start soon, and I'm going to be absolutely committed to making that happen.

I want to make sure that I get it right.

I am absolutely convinced that the best thing we can do is to set a clear timetable, tell the Iraqis, 'We are going to start pulling out.'

My belief is that, as a practical matter, it would be very difficult to execute.

I am a big believer in making decisions well, not making them fast and not responding to pressure.

She has been an extraordinary candidate. She's been an extraordinary public servant for years now. She ran as tough a race as could be imagined.

We will change the country, and we will change the world.

And you can rest assured that, when we finally win the battle for universal health care in this country -- and we will win that fight -- she will be central to that victory.