LOS ANGELES -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- President Barack Obama addressed a broad range of political topics during an appearance on NBC 's `` The Tonight Show with Jay Leno '' Tuesday , insisting among other things that he 's not spending too much time yet focused on next year 's potential GOP campaign rivals . `` I 'm going to wait until everybody 's voted off the island , '' Obama joked . `` Once they narrow it down to one or two -LRB- candidates -RRB- , I 'll start paying attention . '' Obama is currently on a three-day trip to Nevada , California and Colorado . The trip includes several fundraisers for his re-election bid . During a wide-ranging interview , Obama criticized Washington 's harsh political climate , telling Leno that `` the things that folks across the country are most fed up with , whether you are a Democrat , Republican , -LRB- or -RRB- independent , is putting party ahead of country or putting the next election ahead of the next generation . '' The two men discussed several foreign policy topics , including the situation in Libya and the impending withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq . Regarding Libya , Leno asked the president for his reaction to the death of longtime strongman Moammar Gadhafi . `` This is somebody who for 40 years has terrorized his country and supported terrorism , '' Obama said . Gadhafi `` had an opportunity during the Arab Spring to finally let loose of his grip on power and to peacefully transition into democracy . We gave him ample opportunity , and he would n't do it . '' Obama said Gadhafi 's demise sent `` a strong message around the world to dictators '' that `` people long to be free , '' and that `` universal rights '' and aspirations should be respected . The bloodied Gadhafi 's televised jostling with his captors was not something Americans `` should relish , '' the president said `` There was a reason after -LRB- Osama -RRB- bin Laden was killed , for example , we did n't release the photograph , '' the president said . `` I think that there 's a certain decorum with which you treat the dead -- even if it 's somebody who has done terrible things . '' The president hit back at GOP critics of the American role in the NATO-led Libya campaign , insisting that the United States did not , as many have claimed , `` lead from behind . '' `` We lead from the front , '' Obama asserted , highlighting the U.S. role in pushing a U.N. resolution backing NATO 's intervention , as well as the U.S. military 's role in establishing a no-fly zone over Libya . `` The difference here is we were able to organize the international community , '' Obama said . `` There was never this sense that somehow we were unilaterally making a decision to take out somebody . Rather , it was the world community . '' The Libya operation `` is a recipe for success in the future , '' the president declared . Obama also defended his choice to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq by the end of the year -- a decision blasted by GOP critics concerned the move will imperil U.S. gains in the region . `` I do n't know exactly how they are thinking about it , '' Obama said . `` We 've been in there for years , over 4,000 young men and women killed , tens of thousands injured , some of them for life , -LRB- and -RRB- spent close to $ 1 trillion on this operation . I think the vast majority of the American people feel as if it is time to bring this war to a close , particularly because we still have ... work to do in Afghanistan . '' The president noted the importance of the recent death of Anwar al-Awlaki , the U.S.-born cleric killed in Yemen by a U.S. drone strike . Al-Awlaki played a critical role with Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula , heading up external operations and focusing on attacking the United States , officials said . Al-Awlaki was `` probably the most important al Qaeda threat that was out there after bin Laden was taken out , '' Obama said . `` It was important that working with the enemies , we were able to remove him from the field . '' Turning closer to home , Obama had strong praise for Secretary of State Hillary Clinton -- his toughest competitor for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008 . `` I 'm really proud of her , '' Obama said . `` It really was n't that difficult '' to come together after the campaign . `` The truth is Hillary and I agree on the vast majority of issues . '' Obama appeared to dismiss rumors of a possible job swap between Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden in 2012 , telling Leno that `` they are doing great where they are . '' The president expressed a degree of sympathy for the Occupy Wall Street movement , noting that `` people are frustrated , and that frustration has expressed itself in a lot of different ways '' -- including both Occupy Wall Street and the tea party . As a huge basketball fan , the president called the current NBA lockout `` heartbreaking . '' `` We should be able to figure out how to split a $ 9 billion dollar pot so that our fans , who are allowing us to make all of this money , can actually have a good season , '' he said . Asked about his health and personal habits , Obama told Leno that he has `` definitively '' quit smoking , and remains `` big on exercise . '' The president said he works out on a regular basis with first lady Michelle Obama in a small White House gym . `` It 's embarrassing sometimes , '' the president said . `` She 'll get up there a half an hour earlier than me . She will have already run 10 miles or something ... -LRB- when I 'm -RRB- staggering up to the gym . '' Noting the first lady 's highly publicized campaign for fitness and healthier eating habits , Obama said his wife actually does enjoy more unhealthy cuisine on occasion . `` She loves french fries . She loves pizza . She loves chicken . Her point is just in moderation , '' Obama told Leno . As for the upcoming Halloween holiday , the president said his wife generally hands out fruit and raisins . The president said he told his wife that `` the White House is going to get egged if this keeps up . ''