Quotes from William M. Daley

If we don't set the rules for commerce in the Asia-Pacific region, China will.

It's logical and fair to allow only registered or self-identified Democrats to choose their party's nominee (although numerous states do have open primaries). Letting more non-Democrats choose the nominee doesn't guarantee success in a November general election. And it does nothing to encourage people to join and work for the party.

There is no question of the benefits that opening a market of a billion people will bring to American businesses. But as I said last year, this will test China and the world trade system.

As commerce secretary, I led the Clinton administration's effort to ensure China's entry into the World Trade Organization and the permanent normalization of trade between the U.S. and China - steps that produced a 76 percent increase in U.S. exports to China in just three years.

We can't give the impression to our allies or friends in Asia that because the president is against TPP... that therefore, economically, we're going to pull away from Asia.

Trade is an integral part of our foreign policy.

As a pro-business Democrat, I understand the obligations of publicly traded companies to maximize returns to shareholders.

No one knows the Senate better than Joe Biden; he lived there for 35 years.

While a truly national third party wouldn't necessarily be bad, smaller niche parties are ill-suited to our federalist system.

I know something about trade agreements. I was proud to help President Clinton pass the North American Free Trade Agreement in 1993 and create what is still the world's largest free-trade area, linking 426 million people and more than $12 trillion of goods and services.

There's a growing sense among large corporations that to solve global problems like climate change, the responsibility can't fall just on the government. The business community has to be a big piece of that.

Lots of people throw around phrases of 'no-fly zone,' and they talk about it as though it's just a game - a video game or something. Some people who throw that line out have no idea what they're talking about.

You can use all the flowery words in the dictionary, but sooner or later, you have to let people know where you stand.

Young people - motivating them in any election is hard to do.

The reason CAFTA should be enacted is not economic benefits: it is national security.

Bob Gates understands the difficulty of going to war. This is a man who spent almost his entire life working for the government.

There are 14 Cabinet spots, and God only knows how many hundreds of people want them.

A chief of staff has to reflect the president's governing style.

As president, you can't just say, 'I want this,' or, 'Do that.' A president has to lead the American people to where he wants to go, and the chief of staff needs to help him get it done.

The chief of staff has to reflect and sometimes complement the strengths of the president he serves.

What comes into the Oval Office are not the good or easy decisions. The easy decisions are made elsewhere. The things that make it to the Oval are always the hard ones.

While imperfect, the electoral college has generally served the republic well. It forces candidates to campaign in a variety of closely contested races, where political debate is typically robust.

Bernie Sanders is making a big and potentially dangerous mistake with his continuing insistence on changes to the Democratic Party's rules and platform. I should know. As chairman of Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign, I understand too well where such ideological stubbornness can lead.

Whether McCain actively sought Palin in 2008 or passively yielded to aides' pressure, he set a new standard for GOP candidates who rely on lots of sizzle and little substance.