The Obama campaign today announced Barack Obama would head to Michigan tomorrow - a move that only a frontrunner could make on the night of the West Virginia primary. While Hillary Clinton will likely celebrate her victory in the Mountaineer State, Barack Obama is traveling to Missouri and Michigan, states that held their primaries on February 5th and January 15th respectively. Obama will spend Wednesday on the stump in Michigan.

Of course Obama won Missouri and did not contend in Michigan as no delegates were at stake due to a punishment handed down by the DNC. Hillary Clinton carried the illegitimate primary, whose results have not factored into the heated race, and remains one of the reasons why she has yet to concede.

After Tuesday there will be five contests remaining in the Democratic nomination. The Obama campaign vows to campaign in each of the remaining states, but noted in a statement today, “Our schedule reflects the fact that we are still fighting for votes and delegates in the remaining contests but also that we are going to places that are going to be competitive in the fall. John McCain has gone unchallenged for far too long and we’re going to make sure that voters in competitive states know the choice in this election between changing Washington and the third term of George Bush’s failed policies that McCain is offering.”

And while Barack Obama himself has said this nomination is not over, his campaign is beginning to morph into general election mode. “Obviously we also don’t want to wake up on the morning of June 4th or June 10th or whenever this is going to end and not be prepared, so we’re going to do the things we can in our off hours,” Campaign Manager David Plouffe told reporters on a conference call last week. At the time it wasn’t clear “off hours” would mean prior to the campaign sealing the Democratic deal.

One of the “silver linings” to this long, drawn out campaign, Plouffe says, is that they have an organization in most states which will better ready Democrats to take McCain on in the general election. But Obama did not campaign in Florida or Michigan. “I think Florida is one state where we’ve probably suffered the most from lack of campaign activity compared to the rest of the country,” Plouffe observed on last week’s conference call. Which may be why Obama is scheduled to campaign in the Sunshine State on May 21st and 22nd – just one day after the candidate is expected to have accumulated the majority of delegates at stake in the nomination.

On Obama’s travel plans, a spokesman for the RNC responded today by noting, “Barack Obama can travel wherever he wants, but it won’t make his calls for higher taxes, restricted gun rights, and proposed meetings with state sponsors of terrorism any more appealing. Wherever Obama takes his flawed message, voters will learn more about the weak leadership he has demonstrated on important issues confronting the nation.”

The Clinton campaign’s talking points for surrogates and supporters today strain hard to spin last night’s worse-than-expected performance into a victory over what they paint as an enormously advantaged Obama campaign.

“It is laughable that the Obama campaign tonight said that Senator Clinton was supposed to win Indiana, when the campaign itself had an internal memo predicting a seven-point victory in his neighboring state,” reads a document sent out to donors by finance director Jonathan Mantz. “Senator Obama himself called this the tie breaker state and we couldn’t agree more.”

The memo lists Obama’s advantages in the state, which included a spending advantage of 2-1 and the nearby Chicago media market — as well as the fact that Indiana is an open primary, which Clinton officials once spun as an advantage for their candidate. “Let’s be clear about what this loss means for Senator Obama - this is the first state bordering Illinois that Obama has lost. When it came time for him to talk directly to hard working middle class families about their economic concerns, he fell short.”

As a bonus, the talking points include notes on the campaign’s recent re-emphasis on Michigan and Florida — which, when added to the mix, put the magic delegate number for the nomination at 2209.

“Q: Will you take this fight to the credentials committee at the convention?” the campaign asks in a mock FAQ.

“A: We don’t think it will come to that. We believe Democrats think all fifty states should play a role in the process.”

Read the full talking points after the jump

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Sen. John McCain raised more than $6 million during his 2.5 day/6 fundraiser Florida swing at the beginning of this week, a source tells Fox.

During his time in the Sunshine State, McCain raised more than one-third of his entire March money total ($15 million) in less than three days.The establishment of the joint McCain-RNC victory fund at the beginning of April is allowing big donors to give upwards of $70,000, which is then distributed to a number of accounts.

Campaign officials say they are extremely pleased by the number of Romney, Huckabee and Giuliani donors and finance staffers coming aboard. The campaign expects both Romney and Giuliani to attend fundraisers next week in MI and NY respectively. Next Wednesday night’s Manhattan fundraiser is expected to bring in more than $2.5 million alone.

Campaign advisers acknowledge that McCain will never be able to achieve the online and small donor totals of either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton–meaning McCain will have to stick to event-based fundraising for big money–but is now bringing in at least $500,000 per fundraising event.

Tampa, FL– Getting more Americans health insurance and rebuilding the ailing U.S. health care system is about giving more power to the individual, Sen. John McCain declared Tuesday.

“The key to real reform is to restore control over our health-care system to the patients themselves,” he said in a speech at the University of South Florida–as he touted the power of the free market as the solution to the problem of nearly 47 million uninsured Americans. “Families should only pay for getting the right care: care that is intended to improve and safeguard their health….Americans need new choices beyond those offered in employment-based coverage. Americans want a system built so that wherever you go and wherever you work, your health plan goes with you.”

Flanked on stage by nearly 50 medical professionals, many in white doctor’s coats, McCain restated a number of aspects of the plan he initially laid out last fall–albeit with some new details–which at it’s heart offers a tax credit ($5,000 for families and $2,500 for individuals) for health insurance. The goal he says is to offer an alternative to employer-based coverage (as he will eliminate the current tax exclusion for people who receive coverage through work) and create an open market that will require insurance companies to compete for customers. The speech came in conjunction with a new health care ad (see above) set to air in the key swing state of Iowa.

McCain took a few shots at his Democratic rivals’ plans, which offer universal or near-universal coverage, arguing that they “will replace the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of the current system with the inefficiency, irrationality, and uncontrolled costs of a government monopoly.” McCain also called on both Sens. Obama and Clinton to support medical liability reform if they are “sincere” about putting “the needs of patients before the demands of trial lawyers.”

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Miami, FL — Sen. John McCain continues to ride a very thin line on the Jeremiah Wright controversy, reiterating today that while he will not make an issue of Barack Obama’s pastor, he will not be surprised if others do.

“I believe that Senator Obama does not share those views. But Senator Obama himself says it’s a legitimate political issue so I would imagine that many other people would share that view and it will be in the arena,” McCain said during a Miami-area media availability, alluding to comments Obama made during his Fox News Sunday interview today. The Illinois Democrat told FNS that “the fact that he is my former pastor I think makes it a legitimate political issue.”

McCain seized on those comments during his response today to questions about the North Carolina Republican Party’s decision to air an attack ad using controversial Wright sermons despite his opposition. McCain said he still disagrees with the ad but he does not believe the state party should face any repercussions, he no longer wishes “to be the referee” in the dispute and is ready to “move on to the major challenges of this country.”

The Wright-related remarks also came during an availability in which McCain lit up Obama as “totally insensitive” to poor people because of his gas tax holiday opposition, “out of touch” on the economy, as well as having “very little, if any, experience or knowledge” about the security concerns of Israel and the situation in the Middle East.

During his first response, McCain got in a three-for; hitting Obama on his infamous “bitter” remarks, pointing out offensive Wright comments and sending the message that his Democratic rival opened the door a bit on Wright.

“I’ve stated my position very clearly that I don’t like the ad. I was interested that this morning Senator Obama said it was a legitimate political issue. If he believes that, then it will probably be a political issue. I saw yesterday some additional comments that have been revealed by Pastor Wright, one of them comparing the United States Marine Corps with Roman Legionnaires who were responsible for the death of our Savior, I mean being involved in that. It’s beyond belief. And then of course saying that Al Qaeda and the American flag were the same flags. So I can understand, I can understand why people are upset about this. I can understand why Americans, when viewing these kinds of comments, are angry and upset. Just like they view Senator Obama’s statements about why people turn to their faith and their values. He believes that it’s out of economic concerns. We all know it’s out of a fundamental belief, a fundamental faith in this country and its values and its principles. Again, Senator Obama, out of touch. I can’t control, and will not in future, control. I will voice my opinion. And I will continue to say that I think that ad should not be run. But I won’t continue to try to be the referee here.”

For it’s part, the Obama campaign immediately launched into McCain for the comments accusing the Republican of breaking his word on promises to run a respectful campaign.

“By sinking to a level that he specifically said he’d avoid, John McCain has broken his word to the American people and rendered hollow his promise of a respectful campaign,” said Obama campaign Spokesman Hari Sevugan. “With each passing day, John McCain acts more and more like someone who’s spent twenty-six years learning the divisive, distracting tactics of Washington. That’s not the change that the American people are looking for.”

While he danced around on the Wright issue, McCain had no qualms Sunday about attacking Obama on national security and the economy. Some of his greatest hits:

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Pittsburgh, PA — Sen. Hillary Clinton used some of her most direct language yet Thursday as she attacked Sen. Barack Obama for what she sees is his non-effort to resolve the Florida and Michigan primary conundrum.

“He doesn’t want the votes to count, lets not mince words here. Senator Obama has been very, very clear ‘do not count those votes, or come up with some kind of resolution that disenfranchises people by taking away their right to have voted for whom they have voted for and neither of those is acceptable to Michigan and Florida voters and I wouldn’t agree with that either,” she said during a media availability Thursday. “I did agree with a total re-vote and just throw it up in the air and see what happens and he wouldn’t do that.”

Asked if she planned to propose her own solution for ensuring that Florida and Michigan Democrats have a role in determining the ultimate Democratic nominee she said her campaign does not intend to offer a plan–outlining a potential battle at the Democratic Convention this summer.

“If it has to go to a credentials committee, then it has to go to a credentials committee, that’s what they are there for, you know, they’ve had to resolve credentialing and rules fights in the past and they will have to resolve this one,” she said.

The DNC stripped Florida and Michigan of their convention delegates last year after both states moved up their primaries and conflicted with the planned party voting schedule. Clinton won both state primaries (though she was the only major candidate on the MI ballot and no campaigning took place in FL) giving the Democratic underdog an opportunity to have a chance at catching up in the popular vote and delegate battle if she wins the fight to have both states represented at the summer convention.

During her press conference today, she couched the vote counting battle in language that slammed her own party for what she sees as a lackadaisical effort to resolve the primary dispute.

“I really don’t understand why the Republican party very clearly decided what they were going to do and the Democratic party can’t decide. I also don’t understand how you can disenfranchise voters in two states you have to try to win. I don’t think that is smart for the Democratic party,” she said. “This continuing call on my part (to count the votes) ….is in the best interest of the Democratic party.”

Hillary Clinton made her first trip to Oregon, speaking to a packed high school gym just outside of Portland. While they acknowledge that her rival Barack Obama is favored here, the Clinton campaign is playing hard — naming a state director and what the campaign calls a “very active” steering committee, ramping up field staff and opening a state headquarters in Portland next week and satellite offices in every congressional district.

They’re also tailoring their strategy around Oregon’s unique mail-in primary system; ballots will be mailed out on April 28th, and the majority of voters are expected to submit ballots through the post.

“I’m here to meet with you and talk with you and hopefully make my case to you,” she told the voters of Hillsboro, OR. “This is my first trip in a campaign of firsts, and I’m glad to be able to blaze a home in the land of the Trailblazers.”

But even in the Beaver State, she was focused on Michigan and Florida. She’s long argued that their delegates should count, but today she claimed their popular votes should count as well — a move that would put her much closer to Obama in that metric.

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Returning to Los Angeles for a fundraiser in Beverly Hills that capped off a 24 hour million-dollar West Coast swing, Hillary Clinton made it clear that she’s not going away any time soon. After thanking a children’s choir that sang about soldiering on, Clinton said “I loved their inspirational song. We are going to keep going and we are going to keep going and keep going and keep going and keep going.”

But the New York Senator made it clear how important two states that have already voted are to her nomination hopes. “I’m staying in this until Michigan and Florida have a chance to be heard,” she said. “Those votes should go right now into the popular vote, and those delegates need to be counted.”

“Neither Barack or I have the delegates we need. This idea that one of us does and one of us doesn’t, is not the case,” she argued. “This is a neck and neck close race in delegates and votes. And if we acted like Democrats and figured out how we were going to honor the efforts made by these 2.3 million voters to make sure that they were part of this process, it would be more clear that we have to keep going.”

Though the people in the room had already helped with donations and delivering their state for Senator Clinton, she told them she needs more help from California to bring home the nomination — asking donors to go to her website to contribute and get involved, and to bring their friends. “I’m being outspent in every contest,” she said. “I will be outspent in these next contests, but if we have enough money we are going to do just fine.”

Clinton was joined on stage by Hollywood actors and Clinton backers Ted Danson, Mary Steenburgen, Daphne Zuniga and Fran Drescher,  while Hollywood director and Hillary supporter Rob Reiner emceed the event — and singled out one particular participant. “There is an uncommitted superdelegate in this room,” he told the crowd, “and I’m going to help them out.” Making Clinton’s case to this anonymous individual, Reiner joked “I’m talking to the superdelegate now, the rest of you can talk amongst yourselves.”

Senator Clinton took her case for a re-vote directly to the people of Michigan at a union hall in Detroit today, telling voters “I am here for one simple reason: to make sure Michigan’s votes are counted, and your voices are heard in this election.”

The campaign has accused Senator Obama of standing in the way of draft legislation for a revote with a series of legal objections; the Obama campaign says it’s the Clinton camp that’s playing politics with the issue.

Senator Clinton insisted instead that, for her, the issue is one of basic American rights. “I will always defend your right to vote, no matter who you choose to vote for in the end,” she said.

And while the Obama campaign points out that she said in January that the Michigan results didn’t count for anything, Clinton claims she’s always cared about the voters in the Wolverine State.

“I’ve been saying for some time that the people of Michigan and Florida must have a voice in selecting our nominee for president,” she said. “When others made the decision to remove their names from the ballot, I didn’t, because I believe your voices and your votes should count.”

As spokesman Phil Singer accused the Obama campaign on a conference call of pursuing an obstructionist agenda designed to disenfranchise voters, Senator Clinton appealed directly to her Democratic opponent in a subtler manner – while still managing to throw in a standard barbs attacking him as the candidate of rhetoric.

“Senator Obama speaks passionately on the campaign trail about empowering the American people,” she said. “Today I’m urging him to match those words with actions, to make sure the people of Michigan and Florida have a voice and a vote in this election.”

“This is a crucial test: does he mean what he says or not?”

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The Obama camp says it netted more pledged delegates by winning yesterday’s Mississippi primary than Hillary Clinton got by winning the big contests in Texas and Ohio. The Obama campaign has downplayed Clinton’s wins in these so-called “big states” - stressing the path to the nomination comes down to simple math.

Obama has done well by handily winning in states like Georgia and Mississippi - and by remaining competitive in the big states that Clinton has won.  It’s a blueprint that has Obama up in the pledged delegate count - 1411 to Clinton’s 1250 (according to the Obama campaign).

But with 10 contests left and 566 pledged delegates to be awarded, no candidate can reach the 2,025 needed to secure the nomination, which would throw the nomination to the superdelegates.

Of course, Florida and Michigan’s contests have not been resolved by the DNC and their combined 313 pledged delegates are yet to be awarded. The Obama campaign has said it will not accept the results based on the January contest results, as Obama’s name was not on the ballot in Michigan, and he did not campaign in the Sunshine State.

Today Obama campaign manager David Plouffe said caucuses were an option as were new primaries, but cautioned the latter method would be expensive. He has “deep concerns” with a mail-in revote, saying “To try to put to something that took the state of Oregon 10 years to get comfortable with at the statewide level is problematic.”

So what’s the best option? “It seems that the easiest solution here would be some kind of fair seating of the delegations that is not reflective of this contest in January, that allows these states to participate in Denver, but does not advantage Sen Clinton unfairly,” Plouffe said. It’s unclear how this seating would be decided.

Just to be sure voters in Michigan and Florida don’t equate Clinton’s concern for the states’ delegates with making sure their voices are heard in this nomination process, Plouffe noted, “We do not think the Clinton campaign’s approach here is based on benevolence towards Florida and Michigan - it’s based on increasingly desperate, self serving stretching for whatever they think might help them secure the nomination.”

Pennsylvania is widely considered the next (and third) “Super Tuesday” coming up on April 22nd, but the Obama campaign today said Clinton will likely win the state. “They should win by a healthy margin, given where they start,” Plouffe said. “We will campaign hard there, we will try to get as many votes and delegates as we can, but our campaign will not be defined by Pennsylvania. We will be campaigning in all the rest of the states.”

Obama will campaign this weekend in Indiana, and will focus time and energy in North Carolina as well the other upcoming states, while the Clinton campaign focuses on Pennsylvania. Should the nomination come down to supedelegates, the Obama campaign will argue he is the candidate with more pledged delegates, more states, and more of the nation’s popular vote.