Presumed Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain plans a visit to the Charleston area Friday, but it is apparently a private event and McCain officials said Wednesday they could not release the senator's itinerary.

Campaign spokeswoman Crystal Benton did confirm McCain's visit would be Friday morning. He will leave Charleston in the early afternoon to go to Kentucky, where he is scheduled to speak to the National Rifle Association.

Benton said the campaign would probably release McCain's itinerary this morning. "Right now there are a few details we're still working out," she said.

However, an employee of St. Albans Gun and Archery at 450 Walnut St., St. Albans, said the senator is expected to visit that store at 10:45 a.m. Friday. State Democratic Party sources also said they have been told the Arizona senator will be at the store.

Dr. Doug McKinney, state Republican chairman, said a committee working for McCain's campaign had invited all members of the state Republican Executive Committee, GOP lawmakers and some former executive committee members to an event at the St. Albans store set for 11 a.m.

"I know my wife is going," said McKinney, a Bridgeport physician who has an out-of-state national convention to attend and cannot be at the McCain event. His wife is chairman of the Harrison County Republican Executive Committee.

Larry Swann, a former Republican legislator and lobbyist who has headed a group supporting McCain, said the candidate's national office would not allow him to speak about McCain's activities and referred calls to the national office.

The event is by invitation only and not open to the public, McKinney said, but it is not a fundraiser. He questioned why McCain would not hold some type of rally for supporters while in the state.

"I would think the guy would want to get in here and see as many people as possible, but they've got their own strategy," he said.

McCain was the only Republican presidential hopeful who did not attend the state GOP convention in February. At that event, McCain's delegates eventually gave their support to Mike Huckabee to deny a victory at the convention to Mitt Romney, McCain's chief rival at the time.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.

Presumed Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain plans a visit to the Charleston area Friday, but it is apparently a private event and McCain officials said Wednesday they could not release the senator's itinerary.

Campaign spokeswoman Crystal Benton did confirm McCain's visit would be Friday morning. He will leave Charleston in the early afternoon to go to Kentucky, where he is scheduled to speak to the National Rifle Association.

Benton said the campaign would probably release McCain's itinerary this morning. "Right now there are a few details we're still working out," she said.

However, an employee of St. Albans Gun and Archery at 450 Walnut St., St. Albans, said the senator is expected to visit that store at 10:45 a.m. Friday. State Democratic Party sources also said they have been told the Arizona senator will be at the store.

Dr. Doug McKinney, state Republican chairman, said a committee working for McCain's campaign had invited all members of the state Republican Executive Committee, GOP lawmakers and some former executive committee members to an event at the St. Albans store set for 11 a.m.

"I know my wife is going," said McKinney, a Bridgeport physician who has an out-of-state national convention to attend and cannot be at the McCain event. His wife is chairman of the Harrison County Republican Executive Committee.

Larry Swann, a former Republican legislator and lobbyist who has headed a group supporting McCain, said the candidate's national office would not allow him to speak about McCain's activities and referred calls to the national office.

The event is by invitation only and not open to the public, McKinney said, but it is not a fundraiser. He questioned why McCain would not hold some type of rally for supporters while in the state.

"I would think the guy would want to get in here and see as many people as possible, but they've got their own strategy," he said.

McCain was the only Republican presidential hopeful who did not attend the state GOP convention in February. At that event, McCain's delegates eventually gave their support to Mike Huckabee to deny a victory at the convention to Mitt Romney, McCain's chief rival at the time.

To contact staff writer Tom Searls, use e-mail or call 348-5198.