Gov. Linda Lingle plans to return to the Mainland this weekend to campaign for John McCain and to visit Hawaii National Guard soldiers preparing for a Middle East deployment.

The governor will visit with soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas, on Sunday before campaigning for the Republican presidential candidate.

Lingle spokesman Russell Pang says the governor won't use any state funds during her trip.

Pang says it hasn't been decided where Lingle will go to campaign. He says he doesn't know when the governor will return to the Islands.

The 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is due to leave for Kuwait later this month.

Some of the soldiers will guard U.S. installations in Kuwait while others will protect convoys going into Iraq.