At a morning press conference in Raleigh, North Carolina Gov. Mike Easley is expected to endorse Hillary Clinton for president.

Easley, a Democrat, is popular in this southern state. He won re-election in 2004 by 13 points, and succeeded in lowering taxes and balancing the state budget.

Easley is finishing up his second and final term as governor. He previously served eight years as attorney general. Many expected Easley to run for higher office this year -- perhaps challenging GOP Sen. Elizabeth Dole -- though he declined to do so.