NC Attorney General Roy Cooper, the Democrats’ nominee for governor, will not be attending the party’s national convention in Philadelphia next week.
Deborah Ross, the N.C. Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate is going, but only for a day – next Wednesday. Her staff said they were still “nailing down her schedule” for Philadelphia, but she does plan to meet with N.C. delegates to the convention.
Cooper’s campaign said he’ll remain in the state next week. “He’s focused on talking to voters here in North Carolina,” said Cooper campaign spokesman Ford Porter.
North Carolina is shaping up to be perhaps the ultimate battleground state in the 2016 presidential race, with the most recent polls giving Democrat Hillary Clinton a slight lead over Republican Donald Trump.
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But both presidential contenders have high unfavorable ratings nationally, so many down-ballot candidates – including those in North Carolina – are keeping their distance.
N.C. Gov. Pat McCrory’s campaign announced he would not attend this week’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He did fly to Cleveland for an event that was held before the full convention started on Monday.
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., plans to be at the convention on Wednesday only.
Both Republicans are running for re-election this year and polls suggest potentially close races for McCrory-Cooper and Burr-Ross.
Tim Funk: 704-358-5703, @timfunk
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