McCain-Palin team announces N.C. lineup

The McCain-Palin campaign released a list of its North Carolina team this week, including chairmen for all 100 counties.

"This is probably the most impressive leadership list of any campaign in recent North Carolina history," U.S. Sen. Richard Burr of Winston-Salem, the state McCain chairman, said in a teleconference call from Washington.

The honorary co-chairs of the GOP presidential candidate include Sen. Elizabeth Dole, former Sen. Lauch Faircloth, former Govs. Jim Holshouser and Jim Martin and Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the GOP nominee for governor.

McCain has trailed Barack Obama, the Democratic presidential nominee, in organizing the state. But a McCain spokesman said the campaign now has nine offices and 17 staffers. The Obama campaign has 16 offices and between 150 and 200 staffers.

Burr, a longtime supporter of McCain, said the ticket was a perfect fit for North Carolina. He said the addition of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin had generated a lot of interest among grassroots conservatives.

"This is a John McCain state," Burr said. "It's not up in the air for the next election."

The Wake County McCain chairwoman is Jeanne Smoot, the Durham chairwoman is Kate Kohler, the Orange County chairs are Augustus Cho and Jesse Torres and the Johnston chairman is Linwood Parker.

'Heroes' bill has slow start

U.S. Rep. Bob Etheridge still isn't happy with how the U.S. Department of Justice is handling his "Hometown Heroes" bill.

Etheridge, a Lillington Democrat, authored the bill so the survivors of first responders and law enforcement officers who die from heart attacks or strokes in the line of duty can receive survivor benefits. President Bush signed it into law in 2003, but the program has had anything but an easy start.

First, the Justice Department took more than two years to develop final rules for the program, forcing families to wait for benefits. Etheridge agitated for the agency to speed its process.

Now, Etheridge says he doesn't like the re-write of the rules.

Etheridge planned to send U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey a letter saying the new proposed regulations could reduce the number of public safety officers who are eligible for the program.

Etheridge said he fears the changes could make survivors of officers who die during voluntary training programs -- as opposed to mandatory programs -- ineligible for benefits.

He also worries about new paperwork requirements for survivors.

"It was not the intent of Congress to have bereaved families jump through hoops to get a benefit they deserve," Etheridge wrote.

Bradley on Russia, education

Former U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley was in the Triangle on Monday, touting education in Chapel Hill and analyzing Russia in Raleigh.

Bradley, the former presidential candidate and basketball star, cautioned that it was in the U.S. interests to maintain a working relationship with Russia, despite its military invasion in Georgia.

"The truth is it is in our long-term interests to work with them to reduce nuclear weapons, to control nuclear proliferation, to combat Islamic terrorism, and to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power," Bradley said in a brief interview between speeches.

Bradley spoke at N.C. State as part of the Millennium Seminar series.

"Mary Easley hit me pretty hard," said Bradley, referring to the first lady who oversees the series.

Earlier in the day in Chapel Hill, he was a surrogate for the presidential campaign of Barack Obama speaking at Chapel Hill.

"The key to long-term competitiveness is in the classrooms of America," Bradley said. "If we don't improve our school performance with more math and science in the long run, there will be other countries that will do better than we do."

He noted, for example, that while China requires all students to study calculus and advanced biology, only 13 percent of American students take calculus and 18 percent take advanced biology.

Bradley now works for an investment banker, has his own satellite radio show and continues to write books.

Troopers endorse Hagan

The N.C. Troopers Association has endorsed Kay Hagan for the U.S. Senate.

The group, which represents members of the state Highway Patrol, praised her record in the state Senate on school safety, sexual predators and gangs.

"Your record of supporting Troopers and police officers, of supporting improvements to public safety and for more effective law and order is extraordinary," wrote president Ron Crawford in a letter to Hagan. "Our troopers need a strong voice in Washington to lead efforts for legislation to promote Trooper and officer safety."