Here's a mostly complete list of John McCain's surrogates in North Carolina for the general election:

Vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin, wife Cindy, son Doug, U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, former Sen. Bob Dole, former Louisiana Gov. Buddy Roemer, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, former Arkansas Rep. Asa Hutchinson, Republican National Committee deputy chairman Frank Donatelli; Republican Party chairwoman Linda Daves, former N.C. Republican Party chairman Ferrell Blount, state Sen. Neal Hunt, House Minority Leader Paul Stam, state Reps. Ric Killian, Nelson Dollar and Harold Brubaker, Dr. Jeanne and David Smoot, country music singer Cowboy Troy, Nascar team owners Jack Roush and Joe Gibbs, former Nascar driver Richard Petty and former prisoner of war Col. J. Quincy Collins Jr.

Barack Obama's campaign says North Carolina is competitive.

But state Republican leaders are not yet ready to say that the state might be up for grabs for the first time since 1976, noting that President Bush won the state by 12 percentage points in 2004 even with Sen. John Edwards on the ticket.

Presumptive GOP nominee John McCain did not include North Carolina in the 10 states he aired his first general election ad in last week.

Ferrell Blount, a senior McCain adviser and former chairman of the N.C. Republican Party, said Sunday that McCain will appeal to the state's conservative Democrats.

"Obama played well to the Democratic base here (for the primary), but when you start talking about the general election, I'm not exactly sure Obama's going to be as strong as they think he'll be," Blount said.

But he said McCain will campaign here.

"We will take North Carolina very seriously," Blount said. "We will have a full-blown campaign in North Carolina until we feel secure that North Carolina is locked down." (AP)

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich helped $70,000 Thursday night for U.S. Rep. Walter Jones, according to the Jones campaign.

More than 160 people attended the event at the Pitt County home of former state GOP Chairman Ferrell Blount and his wife Lynda.

The event is likely to help Jones, who represents the 3rd district, beyond just the cash. Jones faces a primary challenge from his political right, Joe McLaughlin. And Gingrich is well regarded in conservative circles.

U.S. Rep. Walter Jones is getting some help from the GOP establishment.

Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will attend a fundraiser next month for Jones, his campaign announced. The event will be held in the Pitt County home of Lynda and Ferrell Blount, the past chairman of the state Republican Party.

The Gingrich event comes on top of a recent Jones fundraiser in Washington that was attended by Rep. Tom Cole, chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Rob Christensen reports.

Rep. Spencer Bachus, the ranking member of the House Comittee on Financial Services, will be the star attraction at a Jones fund raiser on Feb. 26th in D.C.

Jones is being challenged by former Onslow County Commissioner Joe McLaughlin, who has been critical of Jones' opposition to the war in Iraq and for not being supportive enough of President Bush.

McLaughlin's candidacy has been been praised by David Frum at the conservative National Review and by Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Norquist will be in Greenville, New Bern and Morehead City on Monday, Feb. 18, stumping for McLaughlin.

The N.C. Republican Roundtable has a round-up of presidential endorsements.

Here are the highlights: 

Mike Huckabee: Former U.S. representative and state party chairman Bill Cobey, among others.

Rudy Giuliani: Political donor and former state Rep. Art Pope.

Fred Thompson: National Republican Party committee member Linda Shaw of Greensboro. 

Sen. John McCain: U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, former Gov. Jim Martin, former state party chairman Ferrell Blount, among others.

For the complete list, go here.