Republican presidential candidate John McCain is in need of a shot of momentum for his campaign and there's no better place for him to turn than to the state's veterans.

   McCain's campaign sent out its first mailing of the 2008 cycle, this one targeted only to veteran households trying to enlist their organizational and financial support.

  The stark, black and blue glossy retells McCain's story as a Vietnam prisoner of war.

    ``It's hard to understand their sacrifice unless you lived it,'' it begins.

    McCain said if elected he'll push for exampended retirement benefits for reservists.

    The McCain camp has a whole lot less money to spend than his front-running rivals, Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney.

    In the past three weeks, Giuliani has sent three mailings to a large universe of GOP and independent voters across the state.

    ``When you have less to work with, you realize how much can be accomplished with a targeted message,'' said McCain aide Mike Dennehy.

-30-

-30-