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

There is a reality to the primary process, and you don't win primaries by being ahead in national polls. You win them by winning Iowa, by winning New Hampshire, by winning South Carolina, winning Florida.

I think there's a lot of reasons for having an extended primary. I think super PACs play a role.

Primaries are the place where you see whose message is connecting with the largest number of people.

A national primary election would electrify the people and give them a larger stake in the outcome.

Competing at the highest level is not about winning. It's about preparation, courage, understanding and nurturing your people, and heart. Winning is the result.

We got to make sure that the Democratic Party is not just Democratic, but seen to be Democratic. That means we got to have systems in place that makes sure that everybody who participates in a primary is perceived to have an equal shot with everybody else.

A small number of people and groups control the Democratic primary.

We are all primary numbers divisible only by ourselves.

The essence of competitiveness is liberated when we make people believe that what they think and do is important - and then get out of their way while they do it.