period where you remember thinking to yourself, with that background, with the way you look, i could -- the american people could elect me president? >> i'm not sure there was a particular moment. certainly when i won the u.s. senate race in illinois, resoundingly, i thought this indicated that my basic belief that i could connect with people from all walks of life had been vindicated. because illinois is a pretty representative state. in fact, dmokemographers look t see what state captures you the best. and illinois is a good example, black, white, latino, asian, it's urban, it's rural. southern illinois is closer to southern culture. northern illinois is much more like a northern state.