I want somebody who's strong. I want someone who's articulate, someone who can connect.

It's difficult to kill somebody that you're dependent on,

Great endeavors need drive,

Front-loading the calendar with new caucuses would make the process narrower and less democratic, and it would be a huge setback to Democrats' efforts to carry Iowa and New Hampshire in the future.

our Democratic nominee will only be mentioned in the press stories when the Republicans are attacking that nominee.

[That plan] will really exacerbate front-loading, which I think is just not good for the process, ... As a member of the Democratic National Committee , I want a process that will nominate a Democrat who will become president in 2008.