Barack Obama preemptively lashed out against attacks he expects the GOP to wage against him in the general election after winning the North Carolina Democratic primary Tuesday evening.

“Yes, we know what’s coming, I’m not naïve,” Obama told a cheering crowd at the Reynolds Coliseum. “We’ve already seen it, the same names and labels they always pin on everyone who doesn’t’ agree with all their ideas, the same efforts to distract us from the issues that affect our lives by pouncing on every gaff and association and fake controversy in the hopes the media will play along.”

In the run-up to the May 6 primaries in Indiana and North Carolina, Obama suffered a torrent of negative news coverage regarding his relationship to his controversial black pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright and domestic terrorist William Ayers. Obama also made a major gaff by calling some Americans “bitter” who “cling” to guns and religions.

Many media figures have also questioned Obama’s patriotism after he refused to wear an American flag lapel pin and his wife, Michelle, said she was “for the first time in my adult lifetime, I am really proud of my country” earlier this year.

Obama addressed all of these issues in an abstract fashion Tuesday evening.

Obama said he would end divisions between Republicans and Democrats “not by duplicating the same tactics and the same strategies as the other side because that will lead us down the same path of polarization and gridlock. We will end it by telling the truth. We will end it by telling the truth forcefully, repeatedly, confidently and by trusting the American people will embrace the need for change even when it’s coming from an imperfect messenger.”

“The other side can label and name call all they want,” Obama said. “But I trust the American people.”

He reiterated his love for America several times in the speech. “I love this country too much to see it divided and distracted at this critical moment,” he said.

At this time the Democratic primary in Indiana is “too close to call” although Hillary Clinton is expected to win and is currently leading Obama.

Regardless of the outcome in Indiana, the Democratic nominee will remain undetermined by the May 6 primaries. Obama leads Clinton in pledged delegates, but will be unable to secure the delegates needed to win the nomination outright.

After the primaries conclude, it will be up to the Democratic party’s “superdelegates” to pick Clinton or Obama to run against Republican John McCain in the general election.