That's how Obama campaign manager David Plouffe introduced Senator Kerry on a conference call yesterday, where some of his most high profile supporters commented on Tuesday's big Obama win.

It's pretty obvious to me, someone who has spent quite a bit of time listening to both of them, that John Kerry is a source of "great advice and counsel" to Barack Obama. I frequently hear things in his speeches and interviews that I recognize as lessons learned from Sen. Kerry's experiences in 2004. His willingness to listen to and consider expert opinions is one of my favorite things about Obama, and he's smart enough to benefit from the advice of someone who has lived through a scorched earth campaign and has learned what it takes fight back the attacks. After eight years of Bush's refusal to consider dissenting opinion or learn the lessons of history, Obama's willingness to learn from the past and from the experiences of others is a hopeful sign.

Joining Senator Kerry on the call were several other Obama surrogates, including Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Governors Deval Patrick (MA) and Janet Napolitano (AZ).

Keith Olbermann commented last night on the call, featuring Senator Kerry's remarks and calling the North Carolina victory and the Indiana squeaker "the beginning of the end" of the Democratic primary battle.

There's no doubt in my mind that we'll be ready for the Republican slime machine when folks see the vibrant, inspirational Obama and his coalition of experts and grassroots supporters go head-to-head with John W. McSame III. I saw Gramps on The Daily Show last night, and I think one of the real challenges in the general election this fall will be for his supporters to keep from dozing off through his speeches. First, though, they'll have to work on getting the candidate to stay awake.

OK, the first one's not entirely fair. I think most people slept through Bush's SOTU. Besides, their positions are so close on most matters he's probably got it down pat anyway. There's also the argument that he's not really sleeping, but telepathically sending the President his plan to start another war. Or maybe he's just resting up for that 3am call so he doesn't sleep through it. Whatever the reason for McCain sleeping through hearings and speeches, I think the Republicans have a plan to keep him awake through his own campaign events. I wonder if they'd be willing to share it with the rest of us.