Women supporting John McCain on Thursday launched campaigns in five Georgia cities on behalf of the presumptive Republican presidential nominee.

Georgia first lady Mary Perdue and state GOP chairwoman Sue Everhart bookended the opening and closing of a meeting of about 120 supporters, most of them women, at a downtown Atlanta hotel. Similar events took place in Augusta, Savannah, Macon and Columbus.

The featured speaker at the Atlanta event was McCain's economic policy adviser Carly Fiorina, who urged the audience to ignore "conventional wisdom" that widespread voter discontent with President Bush over the economy and high gas prices will ultimately doom McCain's presidential bid.

Fiorina also predicted McCain will attract many women voters to his campaign, even if they disagree with the GOP presidential candidate on such issues as abortion.

"I happen to be pro-life," Fiorina said. "There are many women in this country who are not, and yet many of them will support John McCain."

"John McCain understands the role and importance of strong and powerful women," she said.

Fiorina's remarks followed her appearance at a conference across the hall where she spoke to more than 350 businesswomen and advocates for women's issues from around the country.

McCain's Democratic opponent, Barack Obama, also sent a surrogate.

Retired Lt. Gen. Claudia Kennedy told the crowd Obama is the best candidate "to get us back on track."