The head of the national Republican Party says he's not taking North Carolina for granted.

In Raleigh as part of a voter registration swing, Republican National Committee chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan said that the state will be "in the Republican column" in November, but he said the party will devote significant resources to get-out-the-vote efforts.

"We can't take anything for granted," he said.

Duncan said that the Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama had an early organizational advantage leftover from the primary effort against Hillary Clinton, but he said that the Republican National Committee will be building up its voter-registration efforts to back John McCain.

Still, he remained optimistic that McCain will carry the state.

Duncan noted that the campaign of Obama has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on advertising in North Carolina but still lags behind McCain in the polls here.

He also said that U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes will win re-election, arguing that the Concord Republican's constituents know he is a hard-worker in Washington.

Duncan added that he and Hayes live in the same apartment building in Washington, D.C., and he frequently sees Hayes coming home after working late.

The head of the Republican Party is coming to Raleigh tomorrow.

Republican National Committee Chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan will host a roundtable discussion with local Republican leaders at the state GOP headquarters at 2:30 p.m.

Rich Beeson, the RNC's political director, and Bill Stepien, deputy political director for the John McCain campaign, will also be at the event.

The visit is part of the "Victory 2008 Tour" to various states to promote voter registration, microtargeting, get-out-the-vote and fundraising efforts.

It follows a similar visit by Democratic Party head Howard Dean by 12 days.

The chairman of the Republican National Committee is coming to North Carolina.

Robert M. "Mike" Duncan is on a three-week "Victory 2008 Tour" to meet with state Republican leaders and talk about presumptive presidential nominee John McCain.

"I am excited to meet with the grassroots activists, state leaders, and enthusiastic volunteers who are devoting their time and energy to elect John McCain and Republicans nationwide this November," he said in a statement.

Duncan will be traveling with McCain deputy campaign manager Mike DuHaime, Republican National Committee political director Rich Beeson and strategy director Bill Steiner.

The group will also visit battleground states of Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Florida. 

The announcement comes on the cusp of a visit Friday by Democratic national chairman Howard Dean on behalf of Barack Obama.

U.S. Sen. Richard Burr will co-chair the 2008 Republican Platform Committee, giving him some national exposure at the GOP Convention in Minneapolis in August.

Republican National Committee Chairman Mike Duncan cited Burr’s work on such issues as health care reform, veterans health care and cutting government waste, reports Rob Christensen.

Burr’s appointment also means there will be a close ally of Republican presidential candidate John McCain helping craft the party’s positions. Burr, a Winston-Salem Republican, was an early backer of McCain and stood by him when McCain’s campaign faltered last year.

The Republican National Committee has its own take on John Edwards' endorsement.

RNC Chairman Robert "Mike" Duncan released a statement this afternoon: 

"Barack Obama and John Edwards share an out-of-touch agenda that would raise taxes on families while cutting funding for our troops. The only question is why didn't Edwards endorse sooner? Edwards' endorsement of a candidate he previously blasted as inexperienced, hypocritical, and lacking substance will not help Obama with voters looking for real change."