Obama: ‘I don’t think about Sarah Palin’

A week after Sarah Palin declared she can beat President Obama in 2012, Obama insisted he's not focused on her or the upcoming presidential election.

"I don't think about Sarah Palin," Obama told ABC's Barbara Walters, when asked if he can beat Palin in 2012. "Obviously Sarah Palin has a strong base of support in the Republican Party, and I respect those skills, but I spend most of my time right now on how I can be the best possible president."

Obama, who sat down with Walters as part of an ABC prime-time interview set to air Friday, said that if he's a good president, 2012 voters will re-elect him for a second term.

"My attitude has always been, from the day I started this job, that if I do a good job and if I'm delivering for the American people, the politics will take care of itself," Obama said. "If I falter and the American people are dissatisfied, then I'll have problems."

The full interview, part of "A Barbara Walters Special: A Thanksgiving Visit With President and Mrs. Obama," is scheduled to air Friday at 10 p.m. EST.

(Photo of Obama: Alex Wong/Getty Images)