Veterans push for John McCain in Raleigh

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Veterans backing John McCain are calling on North Carolina voters to consider the Republican candidate’s military experience when choosing a president.

About three dozen supporters gathered Tuesday at the Legislative Building in Raleigh to highlight McCain’s Navy background and trounce Democrat Barack Obama’s qualifications to be commander in chief.

West Point graduate and Army veteran Kate Kohler said the next president should offer good judgment and tested military experience — not merely hope. Obama has made hope a keystone of his campaign.

But state Rep. Grier Martin said only Obama has put forth a responsible plan to end the Iraq war. Martin, a veteran of the war in Afghanistan, denounced the McCain’s plan to leave troops in Iraq.