As the presumptive Republican nominee, Senator John McCain does not have to compete in the Pennsylvania primary (in which not everyone engaged is voting). But he does plan to be competitive in the lately blue state during the general election - and in nearly two dozen other states. His campaign hopes to broaden the field of up-for-grabs states to try to capture some that Senator John Kerry took in 2004.

To prevent him from doing this, Democrats intend to make sure everyone knows about Mr. McCain's stance on the Iraq war. The Times's Michael Cooper and Larry Rohter examine how he couches that position, notably using "l Qaeda" as shorthand for multiple insurgent threats there.

Senator Barack Obama faced both primary attacks from Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and general attacks from Mr. McCain in Pennsylvania. Alec MacGillis of The Washington Post talks to voters in one of the state's small towns, and finds limited fallout from Mr. Obama's "bitter" remarks (meanwhile, Mrs. Clinton is taking heat for her comments about MoveOn.org). In any case, the Illinois senator seems to be taking everything in stride, getting his Jay-Z on, writes The Post's Teresa Wiltz. After all, he's got his strongholds in Pennsylvania, too, like Warmdaddy's in South Philadelphia and among the state's African immigrants.

An adviser on China policy to Mrs. Clinton has resigned in the wake of her tough talk about the country, Politico.com reports.

By Sarah Wheaton, The New York Times, April 19, 2008