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When I first ran for governor, the political class and party leaders opposed me with great vigor, and some even said if I won the primary they would never vote for me. But the voters had other ideas, and they are the only ones who count.

I'm a former governor, and so I was the chief executive, and when the legislature wasn't in session, I was running the state.

Had I stayed longer in some primaries, I would have probably done better in states like Nevada, California, and New Mexico - but I ran out of the money after the second primary in New Hampshire.

My nomination to be Governor was not to gratify ambition.

It's hard running as an independent. I wouldn't have won the Senate election if I hadn't been governor. I had credibility. The hard part is getting voters to the point where they think it's thinkable and not a waste of time.

You know, this is not about endorsements in the primary. We have to get through a primary first.

I've gone from being one of the youngest governors to now the longest consecutive serving governor in the country.

My first presidential primary vote was for Bobby Kennedy.

I'm running for governor; I'm not running for a legislative office.

My job as governor is different from the legislators. They represent their districts. I have to represent all 6.6 million Tennesseans and come to the best decisions I can.