A group of veterans declared their support for John McCain today.

At a half-hour press conference in front of the state legislature, nearly 40 volunteers and members of Veterans for McCain withstood 97 degree heat as they argued the presumptive Republican presidential nominee has the right plan for Iraq.

A half-dozen veterans of the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars said that McCain's support for a troop surge in Iraq was politically unpopular but successful and argued that Democratic nominee Barack Obama would put politics above the success of the war.

"Senator McCain stood by the soldiers, and that's why I'm standing by him today," said John Turner, 33, a former Army artillery officer from Raleigh.

The rally was one of a series around the country arranged by the McCain campaign to take part of the media spotlight off Obama, who is touring the Middle East and Europe. Veterans for McCain organizer Ric Killian is hosting an event in Charlotte.

More after the jump.

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Bob Orr raised $227,873 by the end of 2007.

The Republican gubernatorial candidate raised $217,153 from large donors, including Raleigh attorney Gene Boyce, Square One Bank CEO Richard Casey and conservative philanthropist Art Pope.

He raised $3,620 from donors who gave less than $50, $1,500 from the Embarq and Coca-Cola PACs and $600 from the campaigns of state Rep. Carolyn Justus and former Wake County Commissioner Phil Jeffreys, according to a campaign finance report filed last week.

In addition, he loaned his campaign $5,000.

At the same time, Orr spent $225,660 on rent, staff salaries, gas, phone bills and fundraising letters.

That left him with $2,212 in cash on hand.

Bob Orr received $600 from other politicians' campaign funds in 2007.

According to his mid-year and year-end campaign finance reports, the Republican gubernatorial candidate received donations from two campaigns.

State Rep. Carolyn Justus, a Hendersonville Republican, gave $100 and former Wake County Commissioner Phil Jeffreys gave $500.