North Carolina is seeing an unusually intense and early presidential campaign.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama has launched a major effort, airing ads, opening campaign headquarters and hiring field staff weeks before the national conventions.

On Tuesday, about 200 crowded into the local Obama headquarters in downtown Raleigh. A field director said they have registered tens of thousands of North Carolinians.

"North Carolina has not traditionally been a battleground state," said Marc Farinella, who is heading Obama's effort. "But this cycle, it is. We are going to work hard to win it. It's going to be a very, very strong and intensive campaign here.'' 

In response, presumptive Republican nominee John McCain has begun organizing well before the traditional Labor Day kickoff, staging a Veterans for McCain event at the legislature Tuesday. 

North Carolina has not gone for the Democrat for presidence since 1976. (N&O) 

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.

   Comments (8)