Charles Gibson's Exclusive Interview With Barack Obama

Presidential hopeful talks to Charles Gibson in an exclusive interview.

ByABC News
March 6, 2008, 6:52 PM

Mar. 6, 2008— -- ABC's Charles Gibson had an exclusive interview with Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama today.

Gibson: Senator, do you have any better idea than anyone else how this thing gets resolved?

Obama: Well, I think it's going to get resolved by the American people. You know, we've had a vigorous contest with some great candidates. And, you know, what the American people ultimately are looking for is who can bring about the kinds of changes that are going to help them afford health care, send their kids to college, retire with dignity and respect, settle this war in Iraq in an honorable and responsible way.

And, you know, the debate is continuing. The reason I think we've done well is we've said very clearly we want to change how business is done in Washington, and I think that ultimately, you know, the votes that are generated and the delegates that come out of these primaries and caucuses will end up settling the Democratic nomination. And then we're going to have just as fierce a contest for the general election.

Gibson: But it does feel like we're in a triple-overtime game, and there is no provision for a shootout to end it.

Obama: You know, we are going to just keep on going. And we have always believed that this was not going to be easy. You know, we're going against a formidable candidate in Sen. Clinton. She has, you know, 100 percent name recognition and she's got a big infrastructure in and outside of Washington that can sustain her campaign for a long time.

So what we've got to do is to continue to build the grass-roots base that we have and continue to deliver this message that all the issues that we've been talking about are not going to be solved if we can't change how business is done in Washington.

Gibson: But there's such an interesting dynamic here. The party sought the ultimate in democracy by apportioning delegates after each primary and caucus. And it's doubtful, when you look at the numbers, that either one of you can reach a majority in pledged delegates.

And that seems at this point to leave it up to the 800 superdelegates, the party regulars, in effect, who are appointed, not elected. Is that any way to pick a nominee?

Obama: Well, we feel confident that if we are delivering our message and working hard in the upcoming contests that we're going to maintain a big lead in the delegates that came out of the caucuses and the primaries. And, you know, hopefully that will have some bearing in terms of how superdelegates think about it.

But ultimately, I think what we have to stay focused on is why I got into this race. And it wasn't a numbers game; it wasn't how superdelegates are going to operate or the rules of the DNC.

The reason I got into it was because I was meeting too many people who didn't have health care. I met too many children who aren't being educated. I met too many veterans who weren't being cared for when they came home.

And I am firmly convinced that unless we are able to bring the country together, push back some of the special interests that have come to dominate Washington, and start having an honest conversation about how we solve problems in this country that we're going to perpetuate the same thing that we've been seeing over the last 15, 20 years, which is gridlock in Washington.

That's what I want to stay focused on. And if I do, I think that not only will voters respond, but ultimately the superdelegates will respond, as well.

Gibson: Do you favor a revote in Michigan and Florida?

Obama: I think it's important to make sure that people of Michigan and Florida feel as if they're part of this process and that they're heard. And we've just decided that we're going to play by whatever the rules the DNC has set forth.

That's what we've done from the start. And I'll leave it up to the Democratic National Committee to make a decision about how to resolve it. But I certainly want to make sure that we've got Michigan and Florida delegates at the convention in some fashion.