Staff Reports
The former president’s recent visit to North Carolina showcased a clear distancing from the controversial Republican nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. While Trump made a splash in several cities to praise the state’s early voting efforts, he offered a lukewarm response when asked about continuing support for Robinson, leaving many to wonder if the former president was trying to avoid the stench of controversy lingering around the nominee.
As Trump campaigned, reporters inquired whether he would encourage his supporters to maintain their backing of Robinson. In what can only be described as a noncommittal shrug, he admitted to not being up-to-date on the “state of the race.” That’s a politically astute way of saying he knows better than to get tied into Robinson’s messy narrative that has emerged in recent weeks.
BREAKING: New unearthed footage shows Donald Trump calling North Carolina Gubernatorial candidate, and pervert, Mark Robinson, one of the hottest politicians. Retweet so all Americans see how disgusting Trump is. pic.twitter.com/i5ZKybfnAg
— Kamala’s Wins (@harris_wins) September 19, 2024
The challenges facing Robinson are hefty, especially in light of a damaging report from CNN that unearthed some unflattering comments he had made in the past. The term “black Nazi” is not something that typically helps in winning over undecided voters. To add salt to the wound, his crude remarks about civil rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. didn’t do him any favors either. In response to the fallout, Robinson has launched a hefty $50 million defamation lawsuit against CNN, hoping to turn the tables on his critics instead of addressing the underlying issues.
Previously, Trump had touted Robinson as a promising candidate, but the winds of political fortune seem to be shifting. After the CNN report, the former president seems hesitant to be tethered to Robinson’s campaign, which brings to mind the question of whether Trump’s praises were just a passing moment of affection in the tumultuous sea of politics. Interestingly, Robinson has not shared the campaign stage with Trump or his running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance, which suggests that the former president is keen on keeping his distance from the drama.
Meanwhile, Democrats are trying to pin Trump to this tangled mess, hoping it will give them a foothold to flip North Carolina blue for the first time since 2008. However, Trump’s consistent lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in the state shows that the Democrats’ effort might be like trying to plug a dam with a finger—their hopes are likely to wash away in the currents of voter sentiment. Nothing has been more telling of the state’s political pulse than the record-breaking early voting turnout, which Trump credited to North Carolinians enduring challenges yet still showing up to cast their votes. If this energy continues, it could be a harbinger of good news for the GOP as they head into the critical 2024 elections.
