Even though the lengthy fight continues for the Democratic presidential nomination, supporters of Barack Obama are beginning to focus on a general election strategy.

In what may considered a premature tactic since Hillary Clinton is giving no indication she’s quitting, Obama campaign leaders told supporters Saturday that it’s time to switch gears and focus on the campaign against Republican John McCain.

About 40 Obama volunteers met at a Des Moines park on Saturday morning to plan strategy for the rest of the year.

Iowa is expected to be in play and could be won by either party in November, resulting in a hard fought campaign by nominees from both parties.

Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller, an early Obama supporters, told the volunteers that they have an advantage because of the Illinois senator’s ability to put together the come-from-behind victory in January’s Iowa caucuses.

“It was the best organization I’ve seen in any presidential campaign,” Miller said. “And not to date myself, but I go back to the 1970s.”

Miller acknowledged that the primary campaign for Democrats has gone on longer than expected.

“Barack always counseled us that this wasn’t going to be easy. It was going to be tough. And it was,” Miller said.

The Des Moines event was one of about 100 similar gatherings across the country Saturday.

Several paid Obama staffers are back in Iowa to start building a general-election organization. They include Joe Boswell, who asked local supporters to consider housing staff members and out-of-state volunteers returning to the state.

Boswell said hundreds of thousands of voters have turned to the Democratic Party in the current election cycle. He said volunteers will be needed to persuade them to vote for the party’s nominee in November.

Boswell thanked the volunteers for staying loyal to Obama through the long primary season.

“It’s nice to know that the horses are ready to run,” he said.