North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor is facing turmoil after a CNN investigation revealed that he made incendiary, explicit, and racist comments on a pornographic website over a decade ago. The revelation has caused key staff members to step down from their roles within the campaign and ad buys for Robinson are not being renewed, dealing a significant blow to his struggling campaign that was already trailing in the polls. His opponent in the race is Democratic North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein, and the timing of the CNN report just before North Carolinians start casting their ballots has further complicated the race.
Robinson’s campaign announced the departure of several top staffers, including the campaign manager, general consultant, senior adviser, finance director, and deputy campaign manager, last Friday. Additionally, the Republican Governors Association stated that their ad buys for Robinson in the state will not be renewed, further hampering his campaign efforts. Robinson acknowledged the departure of his top campaign staffers and expressed gratitude for their contributions while assuring that the campaign will continue moving forward. Despite calls for him to drop out of the race, Robinson remains steadfast in his determination to continue campaigning with new staff members and support.
The CNN report focused on comments made by an account with the name “minisoldr” on a pornographic website called Nude Africa from 2008 to 2012. The account used the name “mark robinson” and shared biographical details that aligned with Robinson’s own history. Robinson denied that the comments attributed to him were his own, maintaining that they do not reflect his character or transparency. The account expressed disturbing views on slavery and racist language towards civil rights hero Martin Luther King Jr. Former President Donald Trump, who had previously endorsed Robinson and referred to him as “Martin Luther King on steroids,” made no mention of Robinson during a recent visit to North Carolina.
The scandal surrounding Robinson’s past comments has significantly impacted his campaign for governor, with key staff members resigning and ad buys not being renewed. Despite these setbacks, Robinson remains determined to press on with his campaign, expressing confidence in forming a new team that can lead him to victory. The allegations of incendiary and racist comments have brought significant scrutiny to Robinson’s character and have raised questions about his fitness for public office. As North Carolinians prepare to cast their ballots, the outcome of the gubernatorial race remains uncertain in the wake of these revelations and their impact on Robinson’s candidacy.
