Barack Obama kicked off his general election campaign in Raleigh, NC on Monday, an indication that North Carolina will be a targeted state in the fall. Obama delivered a major speech on the economy at the NC Fairgrounds, marking the beginning of a two-week tour through the state, focusing on Economic Policy.

During his speech, Obama went into full general election mode, launching a direct hit on McCain’s Economic policy, calling it a “full throated endorsement of Bush’s Policies.”

Obama Slams McCain's Economic Policy

"But when it comes to the economy, John McCain and I have a fundamentally different vision of where to take the country. Because for all his talk of independence, the centerpiece of his economic plan amounts to a full-throated endorsement of George Bush's policies. He says we've made "great progress" in our economy these past eight years. He calls himself a fiscal conservative and on the campaign trail he's passionate critic of government spending, and yet he has no problem spending hundreds of billions of dollars on tax breaks for big corporations and a permanent occupation of Iraq -- policies that have left our children with a mountain of debt."

Continuing the theme that McCain offers "more of the same," Obama compared McCain’s Health Care plan to that of Bush’s, pointing out that McCain’s plan will not guarantee coverage for those with pre-existing conditions:

"When it comes to relieving these economic anxieties that working families feel, nothing matches the burden they face from crushing health care costs. John McCain‘s approach to health care mirrors that of George Bush. He’s promising four more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and the wealthy – a plan that will actually make it easier – easier – than it already is for insurance companies to deny coverage to the elderly or the sick or those with pre-existing conditions. It may lead millions to lose the coverage they already have and millions more to have to pay even more than they do right now."

Elizabeth Edwards has been hitting McCain on this point stating that McCain’s own plan would not cover him or her.

Elizabeth Edwards Discusses Health Care on Morning Joe from her Home in Chapel Hill

Elizabeth has expressed some concern over Obama's healthcare plan in the recent past, stating she prefers Hillary's plan, as it includes mandates, a prerequisite, many health care experts claim, for Univeral coverage. Despite this fact, Obama is teaming up with Elizabeth on the healthcare issue, a sign that Obama will be willing to work some of the best minds, even when they don't agree with him 100%, a stark contrast, of course, to George W. Bush.

Obama Announces He Will be Teaming Up with Elizabeth Edwards on HealthCare

"By the way, I'm going to be partnering with Elizabeth Edwards, we're going to be figuring all this out."

Both John and Elizabeth Edwards attended today’s speech but it was Governor Easley who introduced Obama, welcoming him onto the stage with a “fist bump.”

Easley, who is completing his final term, was in full form today, "fired up and ready to go." An audition for VP, perhaps?

Video of Full Speech| Transcript of Speech