With Democrat Barack Obama continuing to run strong in North Carolina, the campaign of Republican John McCain is ramping up its efforts here.

Next week both McCain and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin are expected to campaign here, Rob Christensen reports.

Although nothing has been announced, McCain is likely to make his first general election appearance in the state on Saturday, Oct. 18th. The most likely location is Hickory — although Charlotte and Wilmington had also been discussed.

The event would be designed to rally the state GOP's western base.

Palin will attend a fund raiser next Thursday at the Greensboro home of the McCain-Palin finance chairman, businessman Louis DeJoy. She is also likely to have a public rally. The McCain-Palin campaign is looking strongly at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh.

North Carolina has been a traditionally Republican leaning state in presidential politics, but the Obama campaign has made it into a battleground. The McCain campaign is picking up the pace in recent days in effort to keep the state red.

In recent days, Warren Tompkins, a respected Republican operative in South Carolina and a protege of the late Lee Atwater, has been surveying North Carolina for the McCain campaign to determine what can be done to shore up the state.

Republican Vice President candidate Sarah Palin will make her first appearance in North Carolina, with a stop at a fundraiser in Greensboro later this month.

Palin will be the attraction at a fundraiser at the home of Greensboro business man Louis DeJoy and former Ambassador Aldona Wos on October 16th to benefit the national ticket, according to DeJoy, who is state McCain/Palin chair, Rob Christensen reports.

Palin is substituting for President Bush who cancelled his scheduled event Tuesday at the DeJoy home because of the financial crisis in Washington.

It is not clear whether Palin will make any public appearances while in North Carolina.

This would be the first campaign appearance by either McCain or Palin in North Carolina since the primaries.

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.