[El Sordo]

Debate transcripts:

http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=367

http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=373

http://www.keyesarchives.com/transcript.php?id=370

The third one has the money quote: “I’m not running to be the minister of Illinois. I’m running to be its United States Senator.”

[Kleon]

I think the story changed recently, and now that statement came after the debate during an informal discussion.

[DiogenesLamp]

The third one has the money quote: “I’m not running to be the minister of Illinois. I’m running to be its United States Senator.”

That could be the origin of this meme. However, the Post and Email claims two witnesses to it, and under different circumstances, However witness testimony is unreliable in my opinion. At the moment I am going to classify it as unproven.

http://www.thepostemail.com/2009/10/21/2nd-witness-to-obama-admission-in-keyes-vs-obama-2004-debate/