Mark Robinson, the GOP nominee for governor in North Carolina endorsed by former President Donald Trump, was already known as a far-right candidate who Seen to alienate voters In an important battleground state. His inflammatory comments on a porn site and new revelations about his sexual exploitation have now shaken even some of his Republican colleagues.
CNN reported Thursday that Robinson regularly posted on a porn website message board between 2008 and 2012. In those posts, he calls himself a “Black Nazi!” identified as, supported the revival of slavery, described himself as a “perv” for enjoying transgender porn, and admitted to “peeping” on women in public showers as a teenager. Posts found on “Naked Africa” site.
Despite supporting legislation that would ban abortions around six weeks into pregnancy, she also said on the forum that she doesn’t care if a celebrity has an abortion, although she would “like to see a sex tape!” And although he would be North Carolina’s first black governor if elected, he referred to Martin Luther King Jr. as a “Commie bastard.”
Robinson’s email also arrived Linked to an account in Ashley MadisonAn online dating website for those looking to have a relationship.
Robinson, North Carolina’s current lieutenant governor, has denied writing the posts and his campaign says he did not create the Ashley Madison account.
Nevertheless, several North Carolina Republicans, including some in competitive races this fall, subsequently pressured him to quit In the race to succeed incumbent Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term-limited. he has Chose to stay in the competitionwhere he is running between 5 and 14 percentage points behind his Democratic challenger, North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein. Election held last month.
By doing so, Robinson could not only down-ballot Republicans in a closely divided purple state, but potentially Trump as well.
“We’ve had a few examples of reverse coattails where a down-ballot candidate hits the top of the ticket,” Whit Ayres, a GOP pollster, told Vox. “But if anyone can do it, it’s this character.”
Robinson is extreme even for MAGA
The current scandals don’t mark the first time Robinson has been embroiled in controversy.
He made hateful comments about everyone Michelle Obama from Survivors of the Parkland school shooting. It’s called the LGBTQ community.”dirt” He threatened to use his AR-15 against the government if “becomes too large for its breeches,” and she wants to All abortions are illegal as well as Back to when women couldn’t vote. He also scoffed The Me Too movement, Usually womenAnd climate change.
It seems Robinson is also willing to entertain all kinds of conspiracy theories. He a Holocaust deniers And there is one History of Semitic Commentary. He suggested that the 1969 moon landings may have been faked, that 9/11 was a “inside work,” that music industry Guided by SatanAnd that billionaire Democratic donor is George Soros Boko Haram organized the kidnappings of school girls in 2014.
Despite all this, Robinson not only managed to win his party’s nomination for the state’s most powerful position, but he did More than 45 percent over its rivals. Other Republican candidates, trial lawyer Bill Graham and state Treasurer Dale Falwell, expressed concern about Robinson. EligibilityBut ultimately neither name recognition could compete with his MAGA fortunes in a state that twice voted for Trump.
Will Robinson hurt the GOP’s chances in North Carolina this fall?
Robinson could serve as an ideal foil for Democrats — not just in the governor’s race, but also in presidential and down-ballot races. Robinson may struggle to capture More than 35 percent Among GOP voters who opposed him in a contentious primary. Republican leaders certainly seem concerned.
“We knew that [he was extreme]But I still think the revelations of the last 24 hours are stunning,” former Rep. David Price (D-NC) told Vox. “I believe Republican leaders know that, too. Robinson has turned a corner in terms of being able to count on even the most loyal Republican supporters.”
Representative Patrick McHenry (R-NC) told the mountain That report about Robinson is “not good.” and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC), said they “Very worrying“
“That’s my hope [the] “The lieutenant governor can assure the people of North Carolina that the allegations are not true,” he said. “He said they were not true. I think he needs an opportunity to explain to the people of North Carolina exactly how these allegations are not true.”
The fact that even Republicans are distancing themselves from Robinson suggests the tide could be turning in favor of Democrats in North Carolina.
That doesn’t mean Robinson will deliver a landslide victory for Democrats. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris Virtually tied to the stateAccording to FiveThirtyEight’s polling average. And Republican candidates have won three presidential elections in North Carolina since Barack Obama surprisingly took the state in 2008 — including Trump twice. The state remains on the red side of purple, though it has a tradition of split-ticket voting. That helped Cooper win two elections and added to the belief that the state could be within reach of Democrats.
“I don’t think celebration is called for because there’s a lot more at stake than just the governor’s race,” Price said. “We know how tight it is.”
