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GREENVILLE (AP) - Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin spurred Republicans to rally around running mate John McCain's presidential campaign at a time polls warned the GOP's three-decade presidential winning streak in North Carolina was being threatened.

Palin headlined a GOP rally Tuesday at Minges Coliseum on the East Carolina University campus. It was the first major North Carolina campaign event for the Republican ticket since GOP presidential nominee John McCain visited during the primary on May 6.

The Alaska governor arrived later than scheduled and her speech lasted less than 30 minutes so that she could end in time for the evening's televised debate between McCain and Obama.

"Tonight it's town hall time, live from Nashville. And I wanted to come to Greenville so I could watch the debate from here with a whole lot of real Americans, hardworking folks. Because you guys get it," Palin said.

Palin's comments criticized Democratic rival Barack Obama for looking backward to the Bush years and attempting to cut off military funding.

She praised McCain as the leader the United States needs, saying he was shaped by his military service and a political career in which he showed his willingness to cut government spending.

"He is the only candidate running for president with a track record of actually making things happen," Palin said of McCain.

Palin earned cheers from the audience full of college students with a mention of East Carolina's early season football victories over nationally ranked rivals.

"Sounds like Greenville knows a little something about how to turn an underdog into a victor," Palin said.

Palin also praised U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Dole, who is caught in a tough re-election contest against Democrat Kay Hagan and who had helped warm up the crowd.

"She knows a little something about putting some cracks in that highest, hardest glass ceiling, doesn't she? Yes, she does," Palin said.

Palin's appearance underscored Republican fears that Democratic nominee Obama is close to capturing the state that has backed GOP presidential candidates for decades.

Obama has been campaigning aggressively in the state, with hundreds of campaign staffers on the ground and a constant flow of television ads on the air.

Obama has also repeatedly dispatched himself and his surrogates to North Carolina, a state with a large bloc of black and young voters eager to back his candidacy. The work has appeared to help: polls indicate the race is too close to call.

McCain has started to increase his presence in North Carolina with television ads and campaign staff.

His political aides announced two weeks ago that he planned to increase the number of paid staff from 20 to 30. Obama's campaign claims close to 400 workers.

Jimmy Carter was the last Democrat to win North Carolina as a presidential candidate - a feat he accomplished in 1976. North Carolina carries 15 electoral votes.