Senator Barack Obama, with a decisive win in North Carolina, and with a rousing speech, appeared to be resetting his campaign for the general election. He seemed to be letting Hillary Clinton down gently with kinder words - always the sign that the opponent has been weakened - and took shots at Senator John McCain. Ironically he also picked up some of McCain's language in his speech - speaking of the imperfect person - which McCain has used in most of his speeches - and in the many patriotic references to America, his love for it, the flag draped coffin of his father and his grandfather's service in WWII - as well as his continued call for party and national unity.
The speech was tailor made for the superdelegates as well as the general election, to telegraph, if not directly state that it is time for the party to get together.
This may also be the point that the party baton is being handed off from Bill Clinton, who has seen his light as the party luminary dimmed by his less than stellar performance in these primaries - and by the fact that he and his wife couldn't will themselves into the Oval Office for a legacy refresher. Hillary Clinton seemed to do best when he was off the stage - and one has to wonder how much the party will want to use him in the general election - probably rightfully suspecting that he may want to set the table for another run for his wife.
"Obama's greatest general election liability: his bitter half"
"It's Obama, Warts and All" by Karl Rove
"Obama vs. McCain: Let's Get It On" by Daniel Henninger
Obama North Carolina Victory Speech:
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