WEEKSVILLE — U.S. Sen. Richard Burr on Wednesday reiterated his support for area counties opposed to a Navy jet training field in eastern North Carolina.

But North Carolina's junior U.S. senator also said there is nothing he or fellow North Carolina Sen. Elizabeth Dole can do to remove sites in Camden and Gates counties from the Navy's shortlist of possible locations for the airfield.

"I've said from the beginning that I couldn't support any location the community is not supportive of," Burr, R-N.C., said during a visit in Pasquotank County. "The current locations were not based on recommendations of Sen. Dole or myself. We don't have the ability to remove locations from consideration."

The U.S. Navy announced late last year that two sites in North Carolina, one in Camden, the other in Gates, will be included in its study of five possible locations for the airfield, also known as an outlying landing field.

Burr, who toured the TCOM facility in Weeksville, also discussed the nation's struggling economy during his visit. He acknowledged that the economic slowdown is a key concern of constituents, noting that it probably ranks higher now than the war in Iraq. But he believes the situation still doesn't match the classic definition of a recession.

"We have not reached that threshold, which is two down quarters," he said. "But if you haven't got a job and you want one, it doesn't matter what you call it."

Burr said the keys to improving the country's economic outlook are promoting job creation and financial stability. While he was one of 81 senators to vote in favor of an economic stimulus package, he was dismissive of the impact tax rebates could have in bolstering the economy.

"I don't believe it will help significantly, but I certainly didn't feel it would do any harm," he said.

Burr said the 10-day nationwide sales tax holiday which he proposed would have done more to stimulate spending. However, the measure was not taken up by the Senate.

An early supporter of Sen. John McCain's presidential bid, Burr said more and more people have begun to rally behind him.

"Many believe he's the right man at the right time," he said.

Were he in McCain's shoes, Burr said he would not be worried about going up against either of the presumptive Democratic Party nominees for president, Sen. Barack Obama or Sen. Hillary Clinton. He said the ideological gap between either Democratic candidate and McCain is probably the largest he will see in his lifetime.

"I probably wouldn't be concerned by either because there's so little difference between what the two have proposed," he said.

While Burr's name has come up in media as a potential running mate for McCain, he dismissed any vice presidential speculation as premature.

"For those of us who know Sen. McCain well, we know the number one qualification he will look for is somebody the American people feel confident could be president on day two if something happens to Sen. McCain on day one," Burr said.

While Burr said neither he nor Dole can get the Navy to remove the locations from its list, he said they will be able to express their lack of support in future proceedings for the OLF.

In the meantime, he said responsibility for the sites being considered rests with Gov. Mike Easley.

"He has to drop this one right on his shoulders," Burr said.

Burr was touring the TCOM facility because a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development grant recently helped finance the company's multimillion-dollar expansion. The company plans to double the size of its work force with the extra hangar space.

He also had visits scheduled in Winfall and Edenton.