Obama Gears Up for the General

NY Times: The nominee-to-be prepares biographical ads for what could be a huge 25-state ad campaign, as operatives get assigned full-time to Michelle Obama and to combat Internet rumors. Campaign moves to hire Ohio Gov. Strickland's chief political strategist, and may pick up former Clinton topper Solis Doyle. And Obama starts his 2-week economic tour in North Carolina, planning to use a populist economic message and a hefty campaign war chest to capture the state's independents, newcomers and Clinton voters. Other general election potpourri: --WashPost's Balz on Obama and McCain's coming attempts to shake up the electoral map. --WashPost: Iraq could define the McCain-Obama contest. --Chicago Trib: McCain, Obama study in contrasts. --WashPost on Obama's "blue-collar challenge." --LA Times on potential attacks against Obama on the crime issue.