Several top staffers on North Carolina Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson’s campaign for governor have resigned following a CNN report revealing disturbing posts allegedly made by Robinson on a pornography website’s message board over a decade ago. The campaign announced Sunday that senior adviser Conrad Pogorzelski III, campaign manager Chris Rodriguez, the campaign’s finance director, and the deputy campaign manager have stepped down. Robinson thanked the departing team members and expressed optimism about the upcoming election.
The CNN report detailed posts attributed to Robinson in which he referred to himself as a “black NAZI,” expressed a preference for Hitler over former President Barack Obama, and criticized Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Robinson has denied writing these posts and vowed not to be forced out of the race by what he called “salacious tabloid lies.” Despite the controversy, Robinson continued his campaign events over the weekend, including one at a race track in Fayetteville where he avoided discussing the allegations.
Former President Donald Trump, who previously praised Robinson and dubbed him “Martin Luther King on steroids,” did not mention Robinson during a recent rally in North Carolina. Robinson had been a regular presence at Trump’s campaign stops in the state. Despite trailing in polls against Democratic nominee Josh Stein, Robinson remains confident about his chances in the November election, citing previous underestimations of Republican support in North Carolina and a large number of undecided voters.
Robinson has a history of making controversial statements, including remarks about abortion and slavery. His opponent, Josh Stein, has criticized Robinson as unfit for the governorship, while Democrats have sought to link Robinson to Trump in their campaign messaging. Republican U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina weighed in on the allegations, stating that Robinson should have the opportunity to defend himself and warning that he could be considered unfit for office if the claims are true.
Polls indicate a close race between Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris in North Carolina and nationally. Democrats are using Robinson’s ties to Trump in their campaign strategy, with billboards showing the two together and ads highlighting Robinson’s positions on issues like abortion. The situation surrounding Robinson’s alleged posts on the pornography website remains under scrutiny, with Graham suggesting that Robinson’s credibility and ability to serve in office could be at stake depending on the outcome of the investigation.
