CHARLOTTE — Mitt Romney is coming to battleground North Carolina for the first time in almost two months, and a trio of Republican congressional heavyweights also will campaign for him this week in the state.

The Republican presidential nominee’s campaign said Monday that Romney will visit Asheville on Thursday. Campaign spokesman Robert Reid says he couldn’t immediately provide more details.

The former Massachusetts governor last visited North Carolina in mid-August for a Charlotte fundraiser. He’ll be visiting the state on the same night as the vice presidential debate between Joe Biden and Paul Ryan.

Romney’s campaign also said Monday that U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina will attend veteran-themed events Tuesday in Cary and Fayetteville. Graham will hold a similar event Tuesday evening in Wilmington.

House Speaker John Boehner also plans public events for Romney and the GOP ticket Friday afternoon in Charlotte and Saturday morning in Raleigh.

Romney’s campaign and his allies have invested heavily in North Carolina in an attempt to counter President Barack Obama’s extensive campaign network in the state. Obama narrowly won North Carolina’s electoral votes in 2008.

N.C. Republican Party officials said volunteers made more than 200,000 voter contacts this past Saturday.