Katy Benningfield is our TriangleMom2Mom of the week. The McCain supporter is the first politically active mom we'll feature this month. Look for Obama supporters Oct. 13 and Oct. 27 and another McCain supporter on Oct. 20.

Here's Katy:

Mom2Mom: Tell us about yourself and why you support the McCain-Palin ticket.

Katy: I support John McCain because he's been there. He's walked the walk, not just talked the talk. He's been a prisoner of war when he could have gotten out early based on who his father and grandfather were (Naval Admirals).

He refused to leave his fellow Americans and take the easy way out. Today, he can't even salute the flag or type on the computer because of the torture he endured. I like how McCain stands on finishing this war with honor and not cutting and running.

I like his running mate, Gov. Sarah Palin. She's a great example for all women and mothers. She could have had an abortion when she found out she was having a Downs child, like most women do, but she didn't. She also has a great grasp of economic issues and will be a huge help to McCain in that area. Additionally, she's got more CEO experience than Obama, Biden and McCain put together. She is my inspiration. Also, she is one of us. She's working class and her husband works with his hands. I like them both and support them wholeheartedly.

About my political activities:

I've been active since I was six years old when my Democrat grandparents got me involved when I visited their home near Chattanooga. When I was nine, I gravitated to the GOP, and when I was 13, I was Reagan at the GOP convention and fell in live with the Republican party.

I'm an active blogger and fully support the new media, like Mom2Mom. It's replacing traditional media like television and print journalism. I'm actually a grad student at UNC, studying new media at the UNC journalism school. I had to drop out last spring due to a bad back, but now, after spinal fusion surgery in July, I feel better and am starting back this January.

I'm the Wake County chairman of Women for (Pat) McCrory, who is running for governor. I really like Pat. He has a great grasp on the state's economic woes. After decades of liberal rule, he will get us out of this rut and bring jobs back to our state without us having to pay for them with economic incentives, which I like to call "corporate welfare."

I'm also a member of Bloggers for McCain and Bloggers for McCrory and I love being part of both groups. I'm not what you'd call a "rah-rah" Republican, though. I am a conservative first and the day another party became more conservative and viable, I'd leave. I believe in principle over party. I am very dedicated to the cause. I am a lifelong Republican and I registered on my 18th birthday. I grew up in New Bern and the lady who registered me, the late Kathleen Orringer, told me I should register Democrat because I would "never be able to vote" if I registered Republican. In her day, all the contests were settled in the Democractic primaries. Not so today.

I worked for a year on the campaign of Court of Appeals Judge Doug McCullough. He's a fine, fair judge and deserves to be re-elected. I enjoyed working on his campaign and was sorry that it ended. My back was failing and I just could not keep up the schedule. He's running statewide.

Why Am I Doing This?

I've been politically active all of my life and it's my calling. I was a technical writer for 20 years and am never going back to it again.

I am doing this for my three-year-old son, Bobby. His generation will be in charge when I'm a senior citizen. I want to leave them a better world than the one my generation inherited. That includes reducing the size of government by limiting taxes and empowering people and not have them depend on yet another government program. The bureaucracy at the state and local levels are so bloated that they don't run well. There are too many layers of government and it's extremely inefficient. That's just not fair to the kids today. There are people who really need government services who all through the cracks because our government is so inefficient. I think Pat McCrory can make a huge dent in this as governor.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite family place in the Triangle?

Katy: There are several. We like to take our son to Beef 'O'Brady's in Cary. It's a sports bar for families with a small game room for the kids. We can just turn Bobby loose in there. He doesn't need any money (yet) to play the games. Plus, Beefs has no smoking, which is a huge plus, and lots of TV screens to watch our favorite NFL team, the San Diego Chargers. We like them because they ahve former NC State player Phillip Rivers as their quarterback. I wear his jersey. Also, we root for the hometown team, the Carolina Panthers and my husband wears Julius Peppers' jersey.

We also like the Carolina Ale House in Cary on Tuesday nights as kids eat for 99 cents and they have a good no smoking section. Red Robin is fun to go to and for lunch. I sometimes take Bobby to Gypsy's Shiny Diner. He loves the atmosphere and the music.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite place for yourself in the Triangle?

Katy: Anywhere I can drive my Jeep! I don't get much time to myself, but if I could do anything I wanted, just for myself, I'd get in my Jeep Wrangler and drive it to Best Buy at Crabtree and look at all the electronic toys. I'm a gadget freak.

I carry two Smartphones and have several PCs at home, plus audio and video equipment for my blog. And I even sneak in time to play the game "Rock Band" when I am alone. I only play the drum controller, which relieves stress.

I love to shop for electronics and see what's out there.

Mom2Mom: What's your favorite ritual with your son?

Katy: Picking him up from preschool and taking him to lunch. If we go to the Carolina Ale House, I take my laptop and blog, while Bobby flirts like mad with all the college-aged waitresses. He's a charmer!

Mom2Mom: What did you eat for dinner last night?

Katy: I hate to admit this, but we were rushing back from the beach, so it was McDonald's.

Mom2Mom: What's your guilty pleasure?

Katy: My husband and I LOVE watching the HBO series "Entourage." It's "Sex and the City" for men. I've learned so much about men on that show ... mostly thinks I didn't want to know. It's funny and highly entertaining. We have all the back episodes on DVD and we never miss an episode. It was the reason we went through the McDonald's drive-thru last night! We wanted to get back by 10 p.m. to catch the show.

Check out our other daily themes at TriangleMom2Mom:

MONDAY: Meet!
TUESDAY: Ask!
WEDNESDAY: Eat!
THURSDAY: Play!
FRIDAY: Out!

WEEKEND: Relax!