You're reading: Quotes from AP interview with Obama

  Some quotes from President Barack Obama's interview with The Associated Press:

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“We aren’t where we need to be. Everybody agrees with that. But Governor Romney’s policies would make things worse for middle-class families and offer no prospect for long-term opportunity for those striving to get into the middle class.” — On why a struggling, undecided voter should vote for Obama.

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“I don’t really know him well. I think that the big arguments that I have with Governor Romney have to do with where we take this country forward.” — On whether Obama holds any disdain for Romney.

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“When I look back on 2008, the promises that I made — I said I’d end the war in Iraq; I did. I said that I’d go after al-Qaida and bin Laden; we did. I said that I’d give middle-class families a tax cut; they’re paying on average about $3,600 less than they were when I came into office. I said that I would make sure that every American family has some security when it comes to health insurance; we got it done. … So we haven’t gotten everything done that I promised, but a big chunk of what I said I would do in 2008 we have done.” — On his record of his term in office.

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“… His view of how we grow an economy is just contradicted by the facts. He has embraced an approach that we tried for almost a decade, and it didn’t work. And he’s now looking to double down on it.” — On what he has learned from Romney’s campaign.

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“I can’t speak to Governor Romney’s motivations. What I can say is that he has signed up for positions, extreme positions that are very consistent with positions that a number of House Republicans have taken. And whether he actually believes in those or not, I have no doubt that he would carry forward some of the things that he’s talked about.” — On what Obama believes Romney stands for.

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“Governor Romney obviously has achieved extraordinary success with his businesses, and he’s obviously very focused on achieving the presidency. He cares deeply about his family, and I think he cares deeply about his faith.” — On Romney’s background.

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“The small bits of disclosure that he has put forward indicate investments in the Bahamas, or Swiss bank accounts, that indicates to me a lack of willingness to take responsibility for what this job entails.” — On Romney’s disclosure of tax returns.

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“My sense is Governor Romney is a very capable debater. I think he did a very good job in his primary scoring points. The challenge he may end up having is the fact that some of the core arguments he’s making against me just aren’t based on facts.” — On Romney’s abilities as a debater.

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“…The American people will have voted. They will have cast a decisive view on how we should move the country forward, and I would hope that the Republican Party, after a fulsome debate, would say to itself, we need to listen to the American people.” — On how Obama would try to break a stalemate in a second term.

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“For me to be able to say to the Republicans, the election is over; you no longer need to be focused on trying to beat me … I’m prepared to make a whole range of compromises, some of which I get criticized from the Democratic Party on, in order to make progress. But we’re going to need compromise on your side as well. And the days of viewing compromise as a dirty word need to be over because the American people are tired of it.” — On how Obama would pursue a second-term agenda.