NC Democrats say Clinton will boost down-ballot races

"There's no question she helps down-ballot candidates," 4th District Congressman David Price said.

"Every candidate has his negatives," 1st District Congressman G.K. Butterfield said, forecasting that the historical importance of Clinton's run as the first female major-party candidate will drive Democratic voters to the polls and boost other Democratic candidates, from Congress to county commissioner.

"It's going to be an exciting election. I'm predicting North Carolina is going to turn out at its highest rate ever because so much is at stake," Butterfield said. "We're not going to build walls and build fences. We're going to build bridges and bring people together."

"This has a special meaning and special passion in North Carolina because, while we're trying to elect a very qualified and very accomplished president, we're also trying to save our state," Price said.

While 12th District Congresswoman Alma Adams agrees that Clinton can boost Democrats, she said she also thinks a controversial Republican ticket led by Donald Trump – like Clinton, he also has low approval ratings – does even more to fire up the Democratic base.

"I think it's going to excite people to come out so we can change the direction of our state and our nation, so we can change that legislature and get a new governor," Adams said.

Attorney General Roy Cooper, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, skipped the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, preferring to campaign in North Carolina, much as Republican Gov. Pat McCrory did last week instead of attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.