Nineteen North Carolina sheriffs are backing John McCain.

The sheriffs of some of the largest counties — including Wake, Forsyth, Guilford and Johnston counties — are co-chairs and vice chairs of the N.C. Sheriffs for McCain group.

Retired Randolph County Sheriff Litchard Hurley, who heard McCain speak at the National Sheriffs Association meeting in Indianapolis today, said he was impressed by McCain's stance on crime and illegal immigration.  

"He pledged that he would do everything he could to keep people from coming to the United States to break the law," he said.

Hurley and sheriffs B.J. Barnes of Guilford County and Steve Bizzell of Johnston are co-chairmen of the group. Vice chairs include Donnie Harrison of Wake and Bill Schatzman of Forsyth.

The complete list after the jump.

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U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is seeking re-election, has a new tv ad talking about her efforts to help North Carolina sheriffs battle illegal immigration, reports Rob Christensen.

What the ad says: Dole: “I’m Elizabeth Dole, and I approved this message.”

Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell: “The politicians talk and talk about illegal immigration, but Senator Dole actually did something about it.”

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis: “She wanted to meet with sheriffs — and she did.”

Rowan County Sheriff George A. Wilhelm: “Went all over North Carolina.”

Unidentified voices: “Raeford, Greensboro, Hendersonville, Lexington, Mocksville, Salisbury.”

Davidson County Sheriff David Grice: “Most of us didn’t have the tools to identify and apprehend the illegal immigrants who were repeatedly committing crimes … ”

Davie County Sheriff Andy Stokes: “ ... the ones who are tough, hardened criminals.”

Lee County Sheriff Tracy Carter: “So, Senator Dole works out a solution ... ”

Rockingham Sheriff Samuel Page: “... a statewide partnership between federal officials and North Carolina’s sheriffs ... ”

Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes: “... to give us access to the federal tools to identify, apprehend ... ”

Alamance County Sheriff Terry Johnson: “ ... and deport these repeat criminals.”

Randolph County Sheriff Maynard Reid Jr: “It’s the first statewide program like this.”

Hoke County Sheriff Hubert A. Peterkin: “She is one tough lady ... ”

Unidentified voice: “ ... with major-league clout.”

Carteret County Sheriff Asa Buck: “I’m sure glad she’s from North Carolina.”

The background: In October, Dole announced a partnership between North Carolina sheriffs and Immigration and Customs Enforcement to train participating sheriff’s offices to allow them to check the immigration status of criminal suspects and to hold suspects here illegally for deportation proceedings.

Four of North Carolina’s 100 sheriff’s offices — in Alamance, Cabarrus, Gaston and Mecklenburg counties — and the Durham Police Department have signed up for what is known as the (287g) program, according to ICE.

Several other counties, including Wake, have applied for the program. Participation is limited to larger counties because they have the jail space, said Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell, president of the statewide sheriffs association.

The oldest program in the state is sponsored by the sheriff’s office in the Mecklenburg County. There, federal officials have begun deportation proceedings against 4,333 people who are in the U.S. illegally — about 90 percent of whom had been arrested for misdemeanors.

There are 47 (287g) programs with local law enforcement around the country, with Arizona and Virginia having more programs than North Carolina.

What makes North Carolina’s effort the first of its kind is that the statewide sheriffs association has formed a partnership with federal immigration authorities. In other states, the agreements have been with individual departments.

Is the ad accurate? Yes. But, considering the numbers for Mecklenburg County showing that it has overwhelmingly dealt with people arrested for misdemeanors, it’s not clear that the program is dealing with “tough, hardened criminals.”

Pat McCrory will announce at 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Jamestown Public Library.

The Charlotte mayor has declined to comment about what the announcement will be, but it is widely expected to be a run for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, the Charlotte Observer reports.

Guilford County Sheriff B.J. Barnes said today the mayor didn't tell him what the announcement will be.

"But I suspect that's it," he said. "I don't know why he's being so secretive about it."