When President Barack Obama comes to Raleigh today, he will visit a state heavily invested in the health-care debate where millions are being spent to shape its outcome.

The pharmaceutical industry, working to fight off new generic competitors and Canadian imports, employs 118,000 people in North Carolina. Medical schools churn out doctors torn between careers as specialists or taking the less lucrative but sorely needed path of primary care. And major corporations such as Lowe's Home Improvement are trying to figure out how to cover their employees' medical needs.

In all, North Carolina companies and agencies with an interest in shaping the bills that may reform the nation's health-care system have spent $4.8 million this year in Washington lobbying — a jump of nearly 40 percent over this time a year ago, according to an analysis by The News & Observer and The Charlotte Observer.

National pharmaceutical companies with significant interests in North Carolina have spent millions more. Together, lobbying dollars for GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novartis, Biogen and Wyeth have shot up 23.8 percent over this time last year, to $15.7 million.

GlaxoSmithKline, which spent $4.7 million in the first six months of this year, has its U.S. headquarters in Research Triangle Park. The other companies either now have or plan to build drug manufacturing plants in the state.

The lobbying boost comes as the health industry also pours thousands of dollars into lawmakers' campaign chests. The state's two senators sit on the Senate health committee that wrote significant chunks of the reform bill. Several Democratic lawmakers are viewed as sitting on the fence about reform. (N&O)

On Wednesday, the health care debate reaches a fever pitch in Raleigh at the president's town hall and a rally by opponents to his plan. Throughout the day, Dome will bring you the latest on who's there, who's not, what they're saying and what it all means.

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Political committees, including PACs gave the candidates for governor $468,000.

The largest share of contributions to both candidates came from individual donors.

Democratic Party committees gave Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue $1.1 million in the last three months. That represents 25 percent of her contributions in the recent quarter. Other political committees such as other campaigns or political action committees gave her $297,151, or 6 percent of her donations. Those committees, unlike political parties, are limited to a maximum of $4,000 per election cycle. Individual contributors gave 69 percent of the money she received.

The rest came from interest or refunds.

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory received $311,401 from Republican Party committees. That represents 10 percent of the money he reported raising. He received 84 percent — $2.6 million from individual contributors and 6 percent, or $311,401 from political committees.

The rest came from refunds or interest.

McCrory got a $4,000 donation from a Coca-Cola political action committee. Perdue got $4,00 from a Pepsi committee.

More PACs that gave $4,000 after the jump.

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DENVER - While delegates to the Democratic National Convention are paying their own way, there are plenty of corporate sponsors to help feed and entertain them.

When the North Carolina delegation gathered at the Doubletree Hotel's ballroom this morning, AT&T footed the bill for the breakfast buffet of eggs, bacon, etc., reports Rob Christensen.

Other breakfast sponsors will be Fidelity Investments, Merck, Waste Management and the state's congressional delegation.

Sponsors for evening receptions include AT&T, McGuire Woods and Parker, Poe, Adams and Bernstein.