Trump holds rallies in North Carolina amidst uproar surrounding his chosen candidate for the gubernatorial position
The Republican candidate for governor in North Carolina, Mark Robinson, refused to withdraw from the race by the set deadline despite calls from the NAACP, various newspaper editorial boards, and some Republican congressmembers. This decision was made following a CNN report that exposed Robinson's history of controversial statements on a porn website's message board.
Robinson, who is currently the North Carolina lieutenant governor, referred to himself as a "black Nazi," supported the reintroduction of slavery, made explicit sexual comments, and more on the website.
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign released a new TV advertisement linking Donald Trump to Robinson on Friday, marking the first time they've associated a down-ballot candidate with the ex-president. The advertisement does not mention Robinson's inflammatory message board comments but highlights his anti-abortion views.
Harris's ad incorporates Trump's praise for Robinson with the GOP gubernatorial nominee's remarks on abortion, such as supporting a statewide ban that wouldn't include exceptions. The election battle between Harris and Trump is tight, with a win in North Carolina crucial for the former president's chances of returning to the White House.
The Trump campaign's spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt declared that their focus remains on securing the White House, emphasizing their strong economy, low inflation, secure border, and safe streets compared to the failures of the Biden-Harris administration.
Trump's 'Negative Trait'
Despite the revelations, Trump did not invite Robinson to his Wilmington rally. However, the lieutenant governor has attended several of Trump's North Carolina events, including speaking at his Asheville rally last month. Trump commended Robinson, referring to him as "Martin Luther King on steroids."
Robinson's inflammatory remarks about civil rights, school shooting victims, the Holocaust, and more have often drawn criticism. However, Trump overlooked these red flags and endorsed Robinson in March, a pattern seen in supporting candidates who praised him earlier but eventually lost the election.
Some Republicans admit that Robinson's controversy may cripple their chances of winning the North Carolina governor's race. Many Republican politicians distanced themselves from Robinson, and a scheduled fundraiser featuring Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who chairs the Republican Governors Association, was cancelled.
There are concerns that a weak performance by Robinson could negatively impact other Republican candidates in North Carolina, like Senator Thom Tillis, who urged Robinson to take responsibility for his actions if the reporting is true. Conservative commentator Erick Erickson criticized the trend of relying on Trump's endorsement, stating that it often results in expensive campaign blunders.
CNN’s Alayna Treene, Terence Burlij, and Aaron Pellish contributed to this report.
Paraphrased Text:
The Republican governor candidate, Mark Robinson, refused to withdraw from the North Carolina race despite calls to resign by NAACP, newspaper editorial boards, and some Republican lawmakers. This stance followed a CNN report that revealed Robinson's controversial past comments on a porn site's message board.
Robinson, the current North Carolina lieutenant governor, described himself as a "black Nazi," expressed support for bringing back slavery, made sexually explicit remarks, and more on the site.
Vice President Kamala Harris's campaign broadcast a new TV advertisement on Friday linking Donald Trump to Robinson, marking their first attempt to link a down-ballot candidate to the former president. The advertisement did not discuss Robinson's inflammatory message board posts but instead highlighted his views on abortion.
Harris and Trump are in a tight race for the presidency, and North Carolina's victory would significantly boost their chances. The Trump campaign, represented by spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, stated their focus lies on securing the White House by showcasing their strong economy, low inflation, secure borders, and safe streets, contrasting Biden-Harris's failures.
Trump's Negative Feature
The Trump campaign did not invite Robinson to the Wilmington rally, yet he has attended most, if not all, of Trump's recent North Carolina events. For instance, Robinson spoke at Trump's Asheville rally in March, and Trump subsequently brought Robinson onstage in Asheboro. During a Greensboro rally in March, Trump praised Robinson, saying he was "better than Martin Luther King."
Robinson's contentious comments about the civil rights movement, school shooting victims, the Holocaust, and more have typically made him a controversial figure. However, Trump overlooked these concerns and endorsed Robinson in March, a pattern observed in candidates who showered Trump with praise earlier and subsequently won the primary but lost the general election.
Some Republicans acknowledge that Robinson's controversy could hinder their chances of winning the North Carolina governor's office. As a result, they have distanced themselves from Robinson. For example, the planned fundraiser featuring Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, who chairs the Republican Governors Association, was canceled.
There were concerns that a poor performance by Robinson could impact other Republican candidates in North Carolina, including Senator Thom Tillis, who urged Robinson to take accountability if the reports were accurate. Conservative commentator Erick Erickson criticized the trend of relying on Trump's endorsement, arguing it often results in costly mistakes.
CNN's Alayna Treene, Terence Burlij, and Aaron Pellish contributed to this report.
Despite the controversy surrounding Robinson's inflammatory remarks on politics, as exposed in a CNN report, President Trump continued to support him, even appearing at some of Robinson's North Carolina events and praising him as "Martin Luther King on steroids."
The political fallout from Robinson's controversial statements has led some Republican politicians to distance themselves from him, with concerns that his actions could negatively affect other Republican candidates in North Carolina, such as Senator Thom Tillis.
