His diversity a plus, Obama says

VIRGINIA BEACH -- Democrat Barack Obama, looking forward to leading the country at a "difficult, challenging time," says his biracial background and the years he spent as a child overseas will help him be a better president than rival John McCain.

"Being president when things are easy — not to say being president is ever easy — but being president when peace and prosperity already exists is less of a challenge," Obama said in an interview Thursday with USA TODAY. "I signed up to make this country better."

Asked to name some of his assets, he emphasized his upbringing — growing up black with an absent father and a white mother and grandparents. "I come from a diverse background and so I think I understand a lot of different cultures," he said.

That background, Obama said, will allow him to meet "the challenges and threats of the 21st century … more effectively than John McCain."

His grueling, 21-month campaign has brought Obama, 47, to the brink of becoming the nation's first African-American chief executive. In the interview on his campaign jet as he powered through a four-rally, 1,500-mile day, the tired but confident Obama said he's been buoyed by the size of the crowds greeting him at his stops. "Like any politician at this level, I've got a healthy ego," he said.

The campaign has proven that "I'm able to bring a lot of smart people together and get them to cooperate instead of engaging in a lot of infighting," he said. "I think I've done that better than John McCain."

Obama doesn't rule out the possibility, if elected, of seeking an invitation to the international economic summit President Bush plans for November.

"I don't want to make those decisions right now," he said. "I do think it's important to remember we have one president at a time and lines of authority should not blur, especially at a time of crisis."

'Complacency' is a concern

Obama's schedule this weekend is a marathon of rallies throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountain states, with a timeout Friday night to join his daughters, Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, for Halloween.