Chelsea Clinton campaigns for her mother in Minneapolis

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - As the presidential campaign is starting to turn up the heat, Chelsea Clinton stopped in Minneapolis Thursday to raise support for her mother, Hillary.

Chelsea Clinton met a crowd of mostly immigrant voters with a focused message.

"I think this is the most important presidential election of my lifetime," she said.

But Minnesota is still warming up to her mother. Sanders overwhelmingly defeated her in the caucuses. Even Sanders traveled to Minnesota this week to try and energize his and Clinton's base.

“We’re continuing to make the case that if people really think about what is at stake in this election and what really matters to them most and their families, whether that's college affordability or investing in early childhood education or investing in our economy or fighting climate change, my mom is the only one who has real plans in those areas," said Clinton.

Still, supporters came with questions ranging from early childhood education to immigration and even on race, as an audience member brought up the death of Philando Castile. It opened the door to a broader discussion of the presidential race.

"The demonization of people of the basis of gender, race, immigration status, religion, disability status, the rhetoric against our veterans the demeaning of a Gold Star family, I never thought I'd see any of this in my lifetime,” said Clinton.

Many in the Latino community are paying attention.

"We're just here to see how important our vote is and how essential it is for our voice to be heard,” said Scarlette Lopez, who attended the rally.

The Republican Party questioned on Thursday whether Chelsea's visit is a sign of how bad Secretary Clinton's campaign is doing in Minnesota.  Party Chairman Keith Downey predicts the visits by both Chelsea and Bernie Sanders will backfire.

Chelsea is set to return to Minnesota next week, visiting Rochester on Monday.