The race for North Carolina Governor has taken a dramatic turn, with Republican candidate Lt. Governor Mark Robinson facing a storm of controversy and resignations within his campaign. The turmoil stems from allegations of offensive posts Robinson allegedly made on a pornographic website more than a decade ago, sparking calls for him to withdraw from the election.
The scandal erupted after CNN published a report alleging that Robinson, in the late 2000s, made inflammatory remarks on the site, including referring to himself as a “black Nazi,” expressing a preference for transgender pornography, and comparing Hitler to then-President Obama. Robinson vehemently denies writing these posts, calling them “tabloid trash” and a smear campaign orchestrated by his Democratic opponent, Josh Stein.
However, the controversy has had a significant impact on Robinson’s campaign. Four top staffers, including the campaign manager, finance director, and senior advisor, have resigned in the wake of the report. Robinson acknowledged their departures but expressed confidence in his campaign’s ability to recover and continue its focus on key issues like economic growth, tax cuts, education, and crime.
Despite the resignations and mounting pressure, Robinson remains defiant, maintaining his optimism about winning the election. He dismisses the allegations as politically motivated attacks aimed at undermining his candidacy. Meanwhile, Stein has seized on the opportunity, calling Robinson “utterly unqualified” and vowing to do everything in his power to prevent him from becoming governor.
The controversy has attracted attention from both national political figures and media outlets. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina has called on Robinson to provide a credible defense against the allegations, suggesting that failure to do so could have significant implications for his campaign.
The scandal has also intensified the close race for the presidency, with the allegations against Robinson providing ammunition for Democrats seeking to highlight Republican candidate Donald Trump’s ties to the embattled lieutenant governor.
With the November election fast approaching, the fallout from the scandal will undoubtedly continue to shape the race for North Carolina governor, potentially influencing the outcome of both the state and national elections.
