Sen. Barack Obama explains why he's running for president to an audience in Elkhart, Ind., yesterday

It's the question every presidential candidate must be prepared to answer, but when it was posed to Barack Obama by a 7-year-old yesterday, the Democratic senator seemed at a loss for words.

Appearing before a packed high school gym in Elkhart, Ind., the young girl asked Obama why he is running for the White House.

"America is, is no longer, uh, what it could be, what it, it once was," Obama said haltingly. "And I say to myself, I don't want that future for my children."

Talk-radio superstar Rush Limbaugh, who featured the clip on his show today, marveled that Obama didn't immediately speak of running because he loves America.

"You're running for president of the U.S., and you run down the country to a 7-year-old?" said an incredulous Limbaugh.

Limbaugh suggested someone should ask Obama to name the period when, in his opinion, America was as it should be.

Related offers:

"NObama" magnetic bumper sticker

Whistleblower magazine's "THE SECRET LIFE OF BARACK OBAMA"

"Who Killed the Constitution?"

Related story:

Illegal cash to Obama: WND stands accused

Previous stories:

Illegal Obama donors: Middle Eastern Arabs

Arabs deny Obama camp returned illegal donations

Book links Obama to massacre of Christians

When did Obama stop taking drugs?

Obama plans to grab oil company profits

Obama-backed ally forged pact with radical Muslims

Obama energy policy: 'Inflate your tires'

Obama suggests reparations to blacks, Native Americans

Obama tied to Iraqi government fraud?

Obama returns contributions from fugitive

Obama 'money man' bailed out by 'Israel apartheid' activist

Obama camp plasters posters at Western Wall

Obama open to divided Jerusalem

Terror attack around corner from Obama's hotel

American flag disappears from Obama campaign jet

Obama camp bans posters from speech

Rick Warren to host Obama, McCain

Terrorists' assignment: Protect Barack Obama