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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A number of notables were in the audience at the Wake County Republican Party's annual President's Day Dinner tonight.

U.S. Sens. Richard Burr and Elizabeth Dole; U.S. House candidates B.J. Lawson and Augustus Cho; state Sens. Richard Stevens and Neal Hunt; Reps. Nelson Dollar and Marilyn Avila; and state House candidates Bryan Gossage, Eric Weaver and Paul Terrell.

Also at the dinner: Gubernatorial candidates Fred Smith, Pat McCrory and Bob Orr; lieutenant governor candidates Greg Dority and Bob Pittenger; and attorney general candidate Bob Crumley.

A few judges and judicial candidates were also at the audience: state Supreme Court Justice Bob Edmunds, Appeals Court judges Ann Marie Calabria and Donna Stroud, Appeals Court candidates John Tyson and Bob Hunter, Wake County District Court Judge Jennifer Green.

And a few local officials: Wake County commissioners Kenn Gardner and Joe Bryan and Register of Deeds Laura Riddick. Wake GOP chairman David Robinson came back to the podium later to note that he had left omitted "an individual who is most likely armed" — Wake Sheriff Donnie Harrison.

Another noted guest was in the audience: Former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms' wife, Dot.

The loudest applause of the night went to Helms, Harrison and Avila, the former county chairwoman.