Mark Robinson allegations could affect Trump campaign in North Carolina
Sep 23, 2024
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) – Republican Vice Presidential candidate JD Vance will make two stops in Charlotte on Monday to talk with voters.
The visit comes just days after a CNN report linked North Carolina Republican gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson to racist and sexual comments on a pornographic website. Political experts said it could affect the Trump campaign.
Key staffers exit Mark Robinson campaign for NC governor in wake of report about online posts
"They're not going to write it off but it's going to be something that takes the focus off Trump and that's exactly what Trump does not want to happen," said Dr. Susan Roberts, a political science professor at Davidson College.
With fewer than 45 days until the election, all eyes are on North Carolina and the allegations surrounding the Republican candidate for governor Robinson.
"This may be the factor in North Carolina, the Robinson factor, that delivers Trump a loss in North Carolina," said Roberts.
A CNN report claimed the lieutenant governor made lewd comments on a website called Nude Africa, including referring to himself as a black nazi.
Robinson has dismissed the accusations. Since then, our sister station CBS17 reports that Robinson's campaign manager, deputy campaign manager, senior advisor and finance director have all resigned.
BREAKING: Senior adviser, campaign manager, finance director and deputy campaign manager have all resigned from @markrobinsonNC campaign #ncpol @wncn @Queen_City_News @wnct9 @myfox8 pic.twitter.com/HViPRJP7dA— Michael Hyland (@MichaelWNCN) September 22, 2024
At former President Donald Trump's rally in Wilmington over the weekend, Robinson was nowhere to be found.
"The word is distancing," said Roberts. "I don't think you're going to see that he denounces it.
Trump didn't acknowledge Robinson.
"We're going to win North Carolina," he said. "We're going to defeat Kamala Harris and we're going to make America great again."
Instead, the former president focused on the economy.
Meanwhile, Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz was in a different battleground state on Saturday – Pennsylvania.
"We got folks running as Republicans for governor that are proud to refer themselves as nazis," said Governor Walz.
Political experts said the allegations may not bode well for Trump, who needs to win North Carolina if he wants a shot at the White House.
"The Republicans may have to say let's just scratch this one, let's not worry about the gubernatorial race," said Roberts. "Let's just minimize the fallout, do some damage control. But I don't think there's much you can do. The unaffiliated voters are people that sometimes have to be prodded to vote and maybe this is one of the things that will prod unaffiliated voters to vote."