"Leadership is the key to 99 percent of all successful efforts."

"And I believe in having an administration that has clearly defined goals, objectives and time lines such that it and its people can be held accountable."

"It will be about which candidate, which of the two candidates remaining, is best suited to make a positive difference in the lives of North Carolina families, and I submit to each of you tonight that I am that candidate and Elizabeth Dole is not."

"We live in a time today where we face fierce global competition."

"The American people know that every day 3,000 kids begin to smoke, 1,000 of them die an early death. They're not going to allow us to go forward this year and not have comprehensive bipartisan legislation. It's in everybody's best interest."

"You always have certain strengths and certain weaknesses, and you want to compensate for your weaknesses... I have a real duty to earn the trust of the faculty. I don't just deserve it. I have to earn it."