Partial Transcript: Exclusive Interview With Hillary Clinton

Jan. 31, 2008 — -- On Wednesday, I sat down with Sen. Hillary Clinton in Atlanta. What follows are highlights of our half-hour conversation — covering everything from whether she can control her husband to her relationship with her father.

Cynthia McFadden: Thanks for sitting down to talk Sen. Clinton.

Clinton: My pleasure.

McFadden: So the win last night in Florida — Washington Post called it a political stunt . What do you think? I mean what did the win mean?

Clinton: I think it meant a lot to the people of Florida because they voted — they came out — more than a million democrats to make sure that their voices were heard. You know they've had a really rough time — if you're a democrat in Florida the last two election cycles have not been very easy to take and I think they wanted despite the odds against them to demonstrate they were there, they wanted to be heard and I was thrilled to go down there and thank them for the votes — we couldn't campaign there but I want them to know that if I'm so fortunate to get this nomination, I'll be there a lot. I intend to do everything I can to win Florida and make sure it's in the democratic column in November.

McFadden: Sen. [Barack] Obama's staff says really the result in Florida was 0-0.

Clinton: Well that's what they say because that's what you're supposed to say politically but I think it's pretty significant that I got such a big vote and it was across the board. It was very gratifying to me because what we've got to do is build a strong coalition. We've had 6 contests — I've won four of them. I think that shows that from the snows of New Hampshire to the auto factories in Michigan to the deserts in Nevada to the beaches in Florida — people really want a leader who is ready on day 1 to be their president, to deliver results for them.

McFadden: Your husband has certainly caused a furor in the last few weeks — yes or no — did he go too far on your behalf you think?

Clinton: Well I think he is a very passionate promoter and defender of me and I appreciate that — I think we all have spouses that are committed to our candidacies.

McFadden: But …

Clinton: But this campaign is about me. It's about what kind of president I will be. What I will do as president So I want everyone who is supporting me to be on the same page about that.

McFadden: I guess that's a yes (Clinton laughs) so did you have to push him a little bit and sit him down and say "mm mm"?

Clinton: No — we have a great effort going on that he is an integral part of and he's doing so much good for me —

McFadden: But do you think he thought he went too far senator?

Clinton: I think if whatever he said — which was certainly never intended to cause any kind of offense to anyone — that is the farthest thing from him — you know this is a man who has given his whole life to civil rights and equal rights and everything that we stand for and whose presidency was really a high water mark for helping so many people. And yet if it did take offense, I take responsibility and I'm sorry about that because we have nothing but the best intentions and the most hope about what we can do for our country.

McFadden: So there wasn't a meeting at the kitchen table like "OK, we have to get tough now — you be the mean guy and I'll be the nice guy."

Clinton: No, none of that.

McFadden: So here's what a lot of people want to know: can you control him?