In what would be his second North Carolina appearance this week, Republican presidential candidate John McCain plans a Charlotte rally on Saturday, according to a top N.C. supporter.

Charlotte investor Mark Erwin, chairman of N.C. Citizens for McCain, said McCain is expected to be in Charlotte for an afternoon rally. There's no official word from the campaign, reports Jim Morrill of The Charlotte Observer.

A group of North Carolina supporters of John McCain argued today that his policies would help with the current problems in the financial industry.

On a conference call with reporters this morning, the Republican presidential candidate's senior policy advisor, Nancy Pfotenhauer, UNC-Wilmington professor J. Edward Graham and Charlotte businessman Mark Erwin said a combination of lower taxes, reduced spending and more free trade would help the economy recover.

Pfotenhauer attacked Democrat Barack Obama for not offering more specifics in his proposals for handling recent problems with Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae and AIG. She said he offered only "rhetorical pablum."

"It's like saying you're for puppies, kittens and sunshine," she said.

Erwin, a former supporter of Hillary Clinton who endorsed McCain in August, said Obama's plan for a tax hike on the highest income earners and a middle class tax cut would hurt the economy, since it would hurt taxpayers who are "creating the jobs and generating the wealth."

"As I try to understand Senator Obama's economic plan, it seems to be designed for those people who failed math in school," he said.

More after the jump.

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Charlotte businessman Mark Erwin, a friend and supporter of former President Bill Clinton and U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, says he is supporting Republican Sen. John McCain in the presidential election.

Erwin, who backed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, said he did not think Sen. Barack Obama was sufficiently seasoned to be president, reports Rob Christensen.

“I'm supporting (McCain) because I think our country needs somebody who has the depth of experience, proven talent and lots of leadership training,” Erwin said.

“Sen. Obama doesn't have any of those things. I think Joe Biden had it right when he said, 'Some day he will be ready, but he's not ready now.'”

Erwin was a fundraiser and golfing partner of former President Bill Clinton. Clinton named him ambassador to three islands of the east coast of Africa.

Erwin said he met with McCain in Atlanta last week and agreed to back him.

Erwin said he believed this was the first time he had agreed to support a Republican presidential candidate, although he said he has supported Republicans such as U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick of Charlotte.

Hillary Clinton's campaign released the names of its North Carolina steering committee, ranging from poet Maya Angelou to Hugh Shelton, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

The list was announced at a teleconference held by Tom Hendrickson, a former state Democratic chariman; former Ambassador Jeanette Hyde, and the Rev. Brenda Stevenson of Charlotte.

"I know Hillary has the diplomatic skills," said Hyde, who was appointed ambassador to Barbados by President Clinton. "She has the knowledge. She has traveled around the world. I beleive she can help mend some of the problems we have in the world."

The endorsements include many people long associated with the moderate, pro-business wing of the state Democratic Party and with Govs. Jim Hunt and Terry Sanford.

Clarification: Hunt is not on the steering committee, but some of his associates are.

More names after the jump.

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David Young raised $88,000 Tuesday at an event in the home of former Ambassador Mark and Joan Erwin, according to his campaign.

The Buncombe County commissioner, who is running for the Democratic nomination for state treasurer, received the backing from a number of Charlotte business leaders including John Crosland Jr., Stuart Dickson, Cam Harris, Rusty Goode, Jim Hynes, Hugh McColl, Peter Pappas, Nelson Schwab, and Ed Weisiger.

Among the contributors was Crandall Bowles, a textile executive and wife of UNC President Erskine Bowles, Rob Christensen reports.

Young is a Democratic primary along with Raleigh attorney Michael Weisel, and state Sen. Janet Cowell to replace incumbent Richard Moore, who is running for governor.

John Edwards is bringing in the big guns for one last push before the second quarter ends.

The former North Carolina senator is calling together some of his biggest supporters, including former Gov. Jim Hunt, Raleigh attorney David Kirby and former UNC-Chapel Hill basketball coach Dean Smith, for one final push to raise money, Rob Christensen reports.

Edwards has scheduled a high dollar fund raiser for Saturday, June 30, at the home of Steve and Louise Coggins, neighbors of his summer homat on Figure 8 Island. The event will cost $2,300 for hosts, $1,000 for sponsors and $500 for patrons.

His campaign raised $14 million in the first quarter, but reportedly may have trouble matching that figure for the second quarter as it seeks to stay competitive with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and Illinois Sen. Barack Obama.

A list of the major attendees after the jump.

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