Chicago (AP) Aides say Barack Obama is ready to start mapping out a strategy for the general election, even as he gets set to campaign in the few remaining democratic primaries.

After yesterday's two primaries, the Illinois senator is about 184 delegates shy of the number needed to win the democratic presidential nomination. His campaign is making broad hints that it's time for the 270 unaligned superdelegates to get off the fence
-- and back Obama.

One strategist says the drawn-out race for the democratic nomination has allowed John McCain, the presumed GOP nominee, to “run free.”

Obama is enjoying some down time in his Chicago home before returning to Washington, d.c., later today. He's expected to then set out for Oregon, followed by West Virginia and Kentucky.