Frank Donatelli said he's not taking North Carolina for granted.

The deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee said today that the party and presidential candidate John McCain will ramp up spending in the next few weeks.

"We're going to be spending resources here," he said. "We're going to be having a voter identification and turnout program. We're going to be opening numerous offices around the state."

He said that the party will coordinate turnout with other statewide GOP candidates.

At a press conference in Raleigh this afternoon, Donatelli said that McCain will be opening more than it's current three offices "certainly after the convention, but not waiting until then." 

The Republican national convention will be held from Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn.

"You can't take North Carolina for granted," he said. "It is true that it has gone Republican in presidential elections, but it's not so Republican that you don't have to work here and bring the candidate and do your voter turnout and advertise and all that."

"We're going to do what's necessary to win," he added. 

Cindy McCain is in Raleigh today attending a fundraiser for her husband, Sen. John McCain.

The fundraising luncheon was at the home of Dean Painter, a Raleigh businessman who lives on Haymarket Lane, reports Rob Christensen.

The lunch cost $2,300 per person or $10,000 to be a host. The luncheon, which was closed to the press, was organized by Louis DeJoy, a Greensboro businessman, who was a key fundraiser for President George W. Bush.

This was the second trip to Raleigh this summer for Cindy McCain. She also attended the funeral of former U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms.

Update: Frank Donatelli, deputy chairman of the Republican National Committee, said at a press conference this afternoon that Cindy McCain spoke about Sunday's interview with pastor Rick Warren, the invasion of Georgia and other issues.

Brooke Burr, wife of U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, also spoke, and Donatelli gave a general overview of the campaign.

Cindy McCain turned down an interview request from NBC 17, and the McCain campaign would not answer questions about the fundraiser.

"This was such a short trip," Donatelli said. "She was literally in and out."

Between 100 and 150 people attended the event.