ST. PAUL, MN -- Minnesota veterans of varying political stripes are picking sides between John McCain and Barack Obama.
Military veterans gathered at the state capitol, to announce their support for presidential candidate John McCain.
The veterans' news conference coincides with the announcement of a Statewide Veterans for McCain Steering Committee as well as rallies for McCain across the country.
Retired Air Force Colonel Leo Thorsness says he saw McCain's strength of character when they were both prisoners of war in Vietnam.
Thorsness, who is from Walnut Grove and won the Medal of Honor, says he came back to his home state to speak out for McCain.
Veterans supporting Obama say military service isn't a prerequisite to becoming president.
Vietnam veteran Jim Bootz says Obama would help veterans more with issues like health care, and he likes his focus on fighting terrorism in Afghanistan.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
